Apple S1

Apple S1

The S1 integrated computer, 2.5 cm wide[1]
General information
Launched	13 November 2014
Discontinued	7 September 2016
Designed by	Apple Inc.
Common manufacturer	Samsung[2]
Product code	APL0778[3]
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate	520 MHz[4]
Cache
L1 cache	32 KB data[4]
L2 cache	256 KB[4]
Architecture and classification
Application	Apple Watch
Technology node	28 nm[4][2]
Instruction set	ARMv7-A[4]
Physical specifications
Cores	1[4]
GPU	PowerVR SGX543[5]
Products, models, variants
Variant	Apple S1P
History
Successor	Apple S2

Apple S1P

General information
Launched	September, 2016
Discontinued	September, 2018
Designed by	Apple Inc.
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate	520 MHz[6]
Architecture and classification
Application	Apple Watch Series 1
Microarchitecture	ARMv7-A compatible[6]
Instruction set	ARM[6]
Physical specifications
Cores	2[6]
GPU	PowerVR Series 6 'Rogue'[6]
History
Predecessor	Apple S1

The Apple S1 is the integrated computer in the Apple Watch, and it is described as a "System in Package" (SiP) by Apple Inc.^[7]

Samsung is said to be the main supplier of key components, such as the RAM and NAND flash storage, and the assembly itself,^[8] but early teardowns reveal RAM and flash memory from Toshiba and Micron Technology.^[3]

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.^[9]

Components

From reverse engineering, the processor handling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a Broadcom BCM43342^[10] and the six-axis gyroscope is from STMicroelectronics.^[2]

• Apple designed 32-bit ARMv7^[11] based application processor APL0778 as the central processing unit (CPU), with an integrated PowerVR SGX543 graphics processing unit (GPU).^[5]
• 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, but in reality is an S2 minus 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.^[12][13]

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.^[7][14] 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 on 16 September 2016.^[13]

Images

• 
  An illustration of the encapsulated S1 package^[9][15]
• 
  The S1P package shows little of the differences that's encapsulated inside.
• 
  This illustration shows the positions of the chips and other components inside the S1 package.^[15]
• 
  This is how large the S1 is compared to the Apple Watch case.^[15]
• 
  A size comparison of the S1 to the Apple A6 in the iPhone 5^[15]

See also

• Apple silicon, the range of ARM-based processors designed by Apple.
• Apple Watch
• Apple S2

References

1. "s1_decapped_abi.jpg". 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
2. "Inside the Apple Watch: Technical Teardown". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
3. "Apple Watch Insides / PCB Details Revealed for the First Time". ABI Research. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
4. Ho, Joshua; Chester, Brandon (20 July 2015). "The Apple Watch Review: Apple S1 Analysis". AnandTech. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
5. "Apple Watch runs 'most' of iOS 8.2, may use A5-equivalent processor". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
6. "The Apple Watch Series 2 Review: Building Towards Maturity". Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
7. "Apple Unveils Apple Watch". Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
8. "Samsung Supposedly Wins Orders to Produce Apple Watch Components". Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
9. "Apple.com - Apple Watch - Technology". Apple. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
10. "Broadcom Wins WiFi in Apple Watch?". Chipworks. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
11. "Hopper happily opens Apple Watch binaries ('armv7k') to disassemble, says they're 'armv7m'. -- Steve Troughton-Smith". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
12. "We Just Took Apart the Apple Watch Series 1—Here's What We Found Out". Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
13. "Apple Introduces Apple Watch Series 2, The Ultimate Device For A Healthy Life". Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
14. "Tim Cook: Apple Watch on Schedule to Ship in April". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
15. "Introducing the Apple Watch - Movie". Apple. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.