In a speed test video by “MacRumors”, they performed an interesting speed test on the Apple Watch (1st generation) vs the Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple Watch Series 4.
The Apple Watch Series 4 launched last week and features an all-new edge to edge display, louder speakers, a new Electrical Heart Sensor with EKG/ECG ability, and more importantly an all-new Apple Watch S4 SiP (System in a package), this is the first 64-bit Apple Watch processor, unlike the Apple Watch Series 3 and earlier, which feature an older 32-bit architecture. This type of processor addresses memory that is of the 32-bit register, which makes overall system performance and general response slower and more of a struggle. 64-bit was first launched in the iPhone 5s in 2013 and with iOS 7, but since smartwatches use small logic boards, which is a remarkable feat of engineering, we see slower developments with processor improvements and general improvements.
Apple recently dropped the Apple Watch (1st generation) from watchOS 5, stating that “watchOS 5 is not compatible with the first-generation Apple Watch.”, which is most likely because the Apple Watch (1st generation) was slow from watchOS 1.0, and on, and everything was a drag.
We see massive performance improvements in this video, most likely due to the 64-bit design, apps launch faster, and are more responsive, and things like Siri and scrolling is much smoother. The Apple Watch Series 3 was never slow, however the new Apple Watch Series 4 makes it look slow, and makes the Series 2 look really slow, since it has an S2 processor.
To clear things up, there is a lot of confusion between the Apple Watch (1st generation) and the Apple Watch Series 1. The Series 1 was launched in 2016, alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus at the fall 2016 iPhone Media Event, however Apple also launched a Series 2 model at the time, which features waterproofing and a brighter OLED screen. Apple dropped the 1st generation in 2016, and replaced it with a “Series 1”, with an improved S2 processor, so it “is just as fast and snappy as Series 2”
What do you think of the Apple Watch Series 4, do you have one or will be picking one up, and what is your favorite new feature? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: Chris Grainger
Chris is a tech enthusiast always looking for new products and services to try out and share with his awesome community of Apple fellows on Appleosophy!
