Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Apple S1

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Designed by
  
Max. CPU clock rate
  
520 MHz

Instruction set
  
ARM

Common manufacturer(s)
  
Min. feature size
  
28 nm

Apple S1

Produced
  
From November 13, 2014 to September 7, 2016

The Apple S1 is the integrated computer in the Apple Watch, and it is described as a "System in Package" (SiP) by Apple Inc.

Contents

Samsung is said to be the main supplier of key components, such as the RAM and NAND flash storage, and the assembly itself, but early teardowns reveal RAM and flash memory from Toshiba and Micron Technology.

System-in-Package design

It uses a customized application processor that together with memory, storage and support processors for wireless connectivity, sensors and I/O constitute a complete computer in a single package. This package is filled with resin for durability.

Components

From reverse engineering, the processor handling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a Broadcom BCM43342 and the six-axis gyroscope is from STMicroelectronics.

  • Apple designed 32-bit ARMv7 based application processor APL0778 as the central processing unit (CPU), with an integrated PowerVR SGX543 graphics processing unit (GPU).
  • 512 MB DRAM from Elpida, wire bonded on top of the APL0778 CPU
  • NFC controller from NXP
  • NFC booster chip from AMS
  • 8 GB flash from SanDisk and Toshiba
  • Wireless charging chip from IDT
  • Touch controller from ADI
  • Integrated gyro/accelerometer from STMicroelectronics
  • BCM43342 Wi-Fi/FM/BT combo chip from Broadcom
  • Power management unit (PMU) from Dialog Semiconductor
  • S1P

    The SiP in Apple Watch Series 1 is called S1P and looks superficially identical to the S1, and it includes most of the new features of the Apple S2 except notably for the on-chip GPS functionality. It contains the same dual-core CPU with the same new GPU capabilities as the S2 making it about 50% faster than the S1.

    Announcement

    The S1 was announced on 9 September 2014 as part of the "Wish we could say more." event.

    The S1P was announced on 7 September 2016 as part of the ''See you on the 7th." event.

    Launch date

    The S1 made its first appearance within the Apple Watch, which arrived in April 2015. The S1 was discontinued with the launch of Apple Watch Series 1, containing the S1P.

    The S1P was released with the Apple Watch Series 1 the 16th September 2016.

    References

    Apple S1 Wikipedia


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