There’s an upcoming chip aimed at enhancing Wear OS devices, but numerous factors are at play.
**What you need to know**
– A report suggests that Qualcomm is currently in the “initial testing” phase of a new Wear OS chip, codenamed “Aspen.”
– This chip is said to be completely new and may incorporate a 1+4 core configuration based on a TSMC node and feature an upgraded RAM controller to improve battery performance.
– An interview conducted by Android Central with Qualcomm discussed its forthcoming Wear OS chip, indicating that the company is interested in utilizing RISC-V or Oryon cores, although further development is required.
As the week concludes, there are speculations surrounding a future Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm that aims to significantly enhance Wear OS devices.
This information originates from Android Authority, which claims to have encountered “credible evidence” regarding an entirely new chip for Wear OS from Qualcomm. According to the article, the chip has been given the codename “Aspen,” internally referred to as “SW6100” at Qualcomm, and is currently in the “testing stage.” The publication asserts that this chip is gearing up for a substantial CPU enhancement, attributed to a 1+4 core architecture.
This core arrangement supposedly includes one Arm Cortex-A78 paired with four Arm Cortex-A55 cores. Although these cores are approximately a year old, speculation indicates that this CPU upgrade could enhance the chip’s “efficiency and performance.”
Additional rumored specifications encompass the utilization of a TSMC node and an improved RAM controller. The chip is expected to accommodate LPDDR5X for a minor “battery life improvement.” There have also been hints about a new coprocessor; however, detailed information about that component remains unclear.
Speculations suggest that this Qualcomm chip for upcoming Wear OS devices might be launched around 2026.
**Take a step back into 2024**
Here’s where it becomes intriguing. Michael Hicks from Android Central engaged with Qualcomm’s VP & GM of Wearables, Dino Bekis, regarding the future trajectory of the company’s Wear OS chips following prior setbacks. Bekis indicated that the “next” chip would be more “feature-driven” for Wear OS devices, incorporating AI and PC-like features, but it might require additional time for development. Bekis mentioned that Qualcomm was still collaborating with Google to explore its RISC-V cores.
Furthermore, the company has considered implementing its Oryon cores in this wearable chip (the same cores that drive its flagship phone SoC), but it remains uncertain if this newly rumored chip falls under that category.
These were all topics discussed in 2024, and it appears we are still reviewing the same pieces of information. As speculated by Android Authority, this chip could potentially be named the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 or something distinct upon its release.
The most recent chips released by Qualcomm for wearables were the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and W5 Plus Gen 1. Although they addressed some of the persistent issues within the Wear OS market, the chips offered approximately a 50% boost in battery life based on a 4nm process. Given the latest speculations, perhaps we will see this advance to a 3nm process for the forthcoming iteration.
