Skip to Content

No New Apple Watch Chip for the First Time Ever: All Models Stick to S10

For the first time ever, the new Apple Watch lineup does not contain a new chip.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 hero 250909
The Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 all contain the S10 chip. Until now, every new Apple Watch generation featured a new S-series chip since the device's introduction.

Often, these chips were simply rebadged with few to no changes, with the same CPU used across chips. For example, the S6, S7, and S8 chips all shared the same CPU. Similarly, the S9 and S10 are essentially the same chip. The S10 was merely reduced in size to accommodate the smaller casing of the Apple Watch Series 10.

As a result, Apple sticking with the S10 chip for the Series 11 and Ultra 3 is not materially different to if it contained an "S11" chip as expected, and it looks like the company is simply holding off on that name for a more substantial change in the future. The S10 chip comes as the biggest upgrade to the Apple Watch SE, which previously had the S8.

Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

10+ New Features Coming in iOS 27

Friday March 13, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
We're only three months away from Apple's WWDC 2026 event, which will see the company unveil iOS 27. With the fully revamped version of Siri possibly delayed until September, iOS 27 is shaping up to be the update we wanted iOS 26 to be. There will be new Apple Intelligence features, updates for the iPhone Fold, and more, with the latest rumors summarized below. Foldable iPhone Features...
Apple 50 Years of Thinking Different

Apple Announces 50th Anniversary Plans

Thursday March 12, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, but it has yet to reveal any specific plans. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will turn 50 on April 1, 2026. "While Apple is known for looking forward, this milestone offers a special moment to reflect on the journey that has brought the company here, to celebrate the...

Top Rated Comments

fel10 Avatar
27 weeks ago
“This is our most powerful Apple Watches ever”
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
27 weeks ago
They've been largely the same chip for a few generations each time anyway.

I bet next year with the 2nm process, we will see some solid improvements in battery life.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ItsASpider Avatar
27 weeks ago
I mean... The S6, S7 and S8 were all the same chip, just with a different number printed on it, and the S9 and S10 already were too. If anything it is refreshing that they've stopped pretending that these watches get a new chip each year.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gengar Avatar
27 weeks ago
Well, it’s an upgrade for the Ultra, at least. The Ultra 2 only had an S9.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jpf293 Avatar
27 weeks ago
Seems like all that’s changed is the model number.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
27 weeks ago
Not suprised. All the new watches and of course the Series 10 should function similarly. Not upgrading from my Series 10 and very satisfied with it. Good to see the entry level watch SE also having the latest chip.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)