Apple is preparing to unveil new smartwatch models in September 2025: the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and the Apple Watch SE 3. All will feature an S11 chip, which, while marketed as a new generation, will be little different technically from its predecessors. Leaks indicate that the performance upgrade won't be forthcoming this year.
In the Apple world, it's not uncommon for multiple chip generations to be built on the same technical foundation. The S11 is a case in point. Instead of completely overhauling the processor architecture, Apple uses a proven platform and focuses on tweaking details. This approach is reminiscent of earlier years, when the S6, S7, and S8 chips also ran on the same foundation.
Familiar architecture in the new chip
Internal information accidentally leaked to the public reveals that the S11 chip uses the T8310 architecture—the exact same as the S9 and S10 in the Series 9 and 10. The processor architecture is thus unchanged. This is not unusual for the Apple Watch, as Apple often uses the same architecture across multiple generations to ensure stability and efficiency.
Technical specifications
Like the S9 and S10, the S11 uses two "Sawtooth" performance cores, familiar from the A16 Bionic chip. This is a 64-bit dual-core processor with a quad-core Neural Engine. It supports second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) and has 64 GB of storage. This combination offers sufficient performance for a portable device, even if it's no longer on par with the latest smartphone processors.
Optimizations without additional performance
Although performance remains unchanged, the S11 could benefit from internal adjustments. For example, Apple redesigned the chip in the S10 to make it thinner and save space. Similar adjustments are also expected for the S11, which could make the design more compact—without directly affecting benchmark results.
Outlook on the S12 chip
Since the S11 doesn't bring any major innovations in terms of performance, attention is already turning to the S12 chip, expected in 2026. According to current speculation, this will feature a new microarchitecture that will again bring noticeable performance improvements.
Code names for upcoming models
In addition to technical details, internal designations have also been revealed. The Apple Watch Series 11 is codenamed N227, the cellular version N228. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is codenamed N230 internally. The 2026 models also have codenames: N237 for the Series 12, N238 for the cellular version, and N240 for the Ultra 4. These leaks show that Apple is already planning well into the next product generation.
Presentation of the new Apple Watch models in September
The Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch SE 3 are expected to be unveiled at the September event. Even without major performance leaps, Apple is likely to rely on its proven blend of design, feature set, and software integration to make the models attractive. (Image: Shutterstock / Hadrian)
