ABI Research Stars Breaking Down S1 Chip, Finds 512MB RAM

ABI Research has begun breaking down Apple Watch’s S1 processor SoC, and they’ve made some notable discoveries. According to ABI, the custom-designed, resin-encapsulated S1 contains 512 MB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage.

“The design is an obvious variation from Apple’s smartphones, with many high-end functions / chips included that normally would not be found in a simple watch,” comments Jim Mielke, VP Engineering at ABI Research and head of the TeardownIQ group. “Judging by the complexity of the printed circuit board (PCB), and the number of parts on the PCB, one might think the Apple watch is a full-fledged cellular connected watch but in fact connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC.”

Just last week, Chipworks also began investigating the wearable’s guts, taking X-rays of the chip and finding that Apple has gone through extensive architectural measures to create a 6-axis sensor for acceleration as well as roll, pitch, and yaw (gyroscopic functions) that doesn’t require a separate, external accelerometer. This compact design helps Apple keep the watch as small as possible while maintaining — and in fact improving upon — all the required technology needed for such a small, ambitious form factor.

Like Force Touch and the Taptic Engine, expect to see this sensor make its way into Apple’s other mobile products in the near future.