Apple Watch Series 5 runs on same CPU as Series 4

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Apple-Watch-5
Apple Watch 5 is always ready with the time.
Photo: Apple

The insides of the Apple Watch Series 5 aren’t all that different from last year’s Series 4.

Other than the new always-on display, the only other internal changes Apple promoted were the new compass and increased storage. The latest build of Xcode reveals that those are basically the only changes, as the Series 5 uses the same CPU and GPU found in Apple Watch Series 4.

Developer Steve Troughton-Smith confirmed the CPU model on Twitter this morning. Apple’s website says the Series 5 packs an S5 chip that is 64bit and runs two times faster than the S3 chip in the Series 3.

Apple Watch Series 5 specs vs. Series 4

Unlike the iPhone 11, we haven’t seen any teardowns of the Apple Watch Series 5 yet. We’ll learn more about the internals once it goes under the knife. So far, it appears the display driver is one of the only other new things to go with the 32GB of storage, gyroscope and extra cellular bands.

Apple stopped selling the Series 4 after introducing the Series 5 last week, but the Series 3 remains available. Series 5 comes in two new finishes, titanium and ceramic, that weren’t available on the Series 4. The biggest change, though, comes on the software side with the release of watchOS 6.

Apple Watch Series 5 lands in Apple stores across the globe on Friday, September 20. GPS-only models start at $399. Meanwhile, Cupertino cut down the price tag of the Apple Watch Series 3 to just $199.

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