Qualcomm is reportedly working on a major upgrade for smartwatch processors, with a new chip codenamed Aspen (model number SW6100) in the works. This chipset is expected to debut as the Snapdragon Wear W6, following the naming convention set by its predecessor, the W5 (SW5100). 
What’s noteworthy about this chip is that it won’t be based on any previous Qualcomm platform, making it a bespoke solution designed specifically for wearable technology.
The Snapdragon Wear W6 will feature a significant upgrade in its CPU, incorporating one Cortex-A78 core for high-performance tasks, paired with four Cortex-A55 cores for power efficiency. Additionally, the chip will support LPDDR5X RAM, a notable step up from previous generations. The W6 will be manufactured by TSMC, ensuring its cutting-edge technology for smartwatch applications.
In comparison, the previous W5 chip, which powers devices like Google’s Pixel Watch 3, used four Cortex-A53 cores, making the W6’s shift to the more advanced Cortex-A55 cores a clear leap forward in performance. The chipset is also rumored to be in line with Samsung’s Exynos W1000 architecture, which follows a similar core configuration. While the exact release date is still up in the air, the W6 could be officially unveiled at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon summit in September, with the first smartwatches featuring the chip hitting the market in early 2026.
Though this is an exciting leap in performance, many are questioning whether the new chip will address one of the most significant pain points for smartwatch users: battery life. Despite the performance boost, if battery life isn’t sufficiently improved, the W6 might face challenges in gaining popularity.
1 comment
And? It’s not as good as other brand watches with that classic rotating bezel