
Your next smartwatch could be more powerful than you were expecting
The chips will reportedly use a 1x Arm Cortex-A78 + 4x Arm Cortex-A55 CPU configuration for the CPU, a huge increase in power from previous versions.
Why this matters: The news, revealed by Android Authority, means we're set to get faster and longer-lasting user experience as smartwatches pack in more sensors and greater ability to be used independently from your phone.
Recommended Videos
It could also entice more brands to enter the smartwatch space, bringing competition for your wrist.
What you need to know
Smartwatches have traditionally had converted chips made for smartphones, but this sees Qualcomm making a dedicated chip for the first time.
The new chipset, set to be launched in 2026, will use a far more powerful CPU configuration than the Arm Cortex A53 structure used on the previous model from 2022.
Support for a better RAM controller (LLDDR5X) will help enable improved battery efficiency, leading to longer time between charges.
The new chipset will be created using a TMSC process node – using production from the Taiwanese brand signals the new Aspena chip will be one of the most powerful on the market.
Why should I care? The main takeaway here is that it's proof that wearables are set to grow in popularity – the launch of new devices (such as the Samsung Galaxy 8 series) shows that brands see this as a key battleground. As more sensors get packed into smartwatches, to enable things like deeper health tracking, offline maps use or media streaming or more impressive user interfaces, greater levels of power are needed to keep up. The promise of longer battery life, although not huge, will also be beneficial to users looking to wear the device longer to gain more accurate health insight, and the increased speed under the finger will allow more impressive and intuitive animations.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Android Authority
30 minutes ago
- Android Authority
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 finally gets UWB for precise tracking, but only if you buy this version
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 has ultra-wideband (UWB) support, but the feature is exclusive to the South Korean model. UWB is a wireless technology that enables highly precise location tracking for features like digital car keys and Google's Find Hub. It's unclear why UWB is limited to the Korean model, but it may be due to regional demand or the cost of regulatory certification in other countries. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip lineup offers most of the features seen in the company's other flagship devices, including a top-tier chipset, the latest version of One UI, and Galaxy AI. However, the series traditionally misses out on some features due to its compact form factor or for strategic reasons. For example, every device in the Z Flip lineup, including the new Galaxy Z Flip 7, was thought to lack support for ultra-wideband (UWB). As it turns out, that's not entirely true. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 does support UWB, but only if you buy it in Samsung's home market of South Korea. UWB is a short-range wireless communication technology similar to Bluetooth, but it excels at highly precise location tracking, offering centimeter-level accuracy. In practice, this allows Android's digital car key feature to locate and unlock your car as you approach it. Google's Find Hub also uses UWB to pinpoint the exact location of item trackers. While both features benefit greatly from UWB's precision, very few devices on the market actually support the technology, forcing them to fall back to less precise tracking methods. According to the Google Play Console's device catalog, which developers use to check device compatibility with their apps, fewer than 90 models currently support UWB. Samsung accounts for more than half of those, having first shipped UWB in the Galaxy Note 20 back in 2020. The company has since equipped its flagship Galaxy S (Plus and Ultra models only) and Galaxy Z Fold lineups with UWB, but it has consistently omitted the feature from the Galaxy Z Flip lineup — until now. In most countries, including the U.S., the Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn't have UWB. However, the feature appears to be supported on the Korean model. Reddit user FragmentedChicken noticed that Samsung's spec sheet for the Korean Galaxy Z Flip 7 lists UWB as a supported technology. This wasn't a mistake, as the device also appears in the Google Play Console's list of phones that support UWB. Furthermore, a Korean unit we tested via Samsung's Remote Test Lab shows an 'Ultra-wideband (UWB)' toggle under Settings > Connections, just like other UWB-equipped Samsung phones. Korean Galaxy Z Flip 7 details UWB toggle on the Korean Galaxy Z Flip 7 It's not clear why UWB is exclusive to the Korean Galaxy Z Flip 7, but it may be due to regional demand. Perhaps UWB has grown so popular in South Korea that Samsung felt compelled to include it to prevent customers from switching brands. Alternatively, the decision could come down to the costs of regulatory and compliance certification in each country where the phone is sold. We're not sure if the UWB radio is present on global units and simply disabled in software, so we'll have to wait for a hardware teardown to confirm. In the meantime, if you live outside of Korea and want a Samsung phone with UWB, you'll need to get either a Plus or Ultra model from the Galaxy S25 series or the new Galaxy Z Fold 7. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.


Android Authority
30 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Could Google be working on a more affordable Gemini plan? (APK teardown)
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Code spotted in the latest Google app and Google One app suggests a potential new 'Google AI Lite' plan. This new tier could potentially sit between the current free and Pro subscriptions, offering increased rate limits for features like deep research and video generation. Google has not officially announced this plan, and it's unclear if and when it will launch. Google Gemini is available for free to all users with a personal Google account. If you want to try out what Gemini can do for you, the free plan gives you a fairly extensive trial, but understandably, there are rate limits for features like image generation, Deep Research, and more. If you want more generous limits or access to features like newer models, you need to pay $19.99 a month for Google AI Pro or $249.99 a month for the Google AI Ultra plan. While the pricing feels fair, it can still be steep for users who want just a bit more than the free tier. There might be good news coming for such users, as Google could be exploring a 'Google AI Lite' plan that could slot in between the free and Pro plans. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. Within the latest Google app beta, we spotted code that hints towards an upcoming 'Google AI Lite' plan. Some pieces of code refer to it as 'Lite Mode' too. Code Copy Text ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_DISCOVERY_CARD_ENTRY_POINT ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_FREEMIUM_DEEP_RESEARCH_ENTRY_POINT ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_FREEMIUM_TWO_POINT_FIVE_PRO_ENTRY_POINT ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_FREEMIUM_VIDEO_GENERATION_ENTRY_POINT ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_MODE_PICKER_ENTRY_POINT ROBIN_G1_UPGRADE_LITE_ZERO_STATE_ENTRY_POINT In the code snippet above, 'robin' is the codename for Google Gemini. The code snippet seemingly describes some of the entry points where the Lite plan will be upsold to users, namely around features like Deep Research and Video Generation. Users might even get some limited access to newer models like Gemini 2.5 Pro. Another set of code within the Google One app refers to this Lite plan as 'AIL,' as you can see below: AssembleDebug / Android Authority We think that Google could be working on a Google AI Lite plan that would be upsold to users when they reach the free limits for features like video generation and deep research. The clues are admittedly a bit muddled, so things can turn out differently than our interpretation. Google already offers a Google One Lite plan in some regions. For just $0.7 a month (regional pricing), the plan doubles the storage from the free 15GB limit to a more practical 30GB limit. It makes sense for users who don't want to pay $2 monthly for the 100GB storage space and the family sharing features. The Google AI Lite plan could be similar, bumping up some of the rate limits without introducing any substantially new features or benefits. Google hasn't yet announced the Google AI Lite plan, and there's always a chance it may not either, or it could take some other form. We'll keep you updated when we learn more. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.


Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge rumor teases the best of both worlds
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR The next Galaxy Edge phone is rumored to be even thinner than its predecessor. The rumor also suggests that the device may have a larger battery. To achieve this feat, Samsung may use 'new battery material technology.' The Galaxy S25 Edge stands out from the rest of the Galaxy S25 line due to its slim and light design. However, to achieve this slender frame, Samsung had to make a number of sacrifices, which may have played a hand in its poor sales numbers. Despite selling fewer than expected units, it seems the device may still get a successor. That successor may fix the Edge's biggest flaw. Reputable leaker Ice Universe shared some details about the Galaxy S26 Edge on X (formerly Twitter) today. According to the tipster, Samsung intends to make the Galaxy S26 Edge even thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge. That would be an impressive feat considering how thin the Galaxy S25 Edge already is at 5.8mm. However, this rumor mentions something that would be even more impressive than shaving off some millimeters. One of the biggest complaints about the Edge is the battery. Due to its thin build, it contains a measly 3,900mAh battery, which is 100mAh less than the battery on the vanilla Galaxy S25. Despite Samsung wanting to go thinner with the Galaxy S26 Edge, Ice Universe claims the next Edge will have a larger battery. How will Samsung accomplish putting a larger battery in a smaller body? The tipster says Samsung will use 'new battery material technology.' The Galaxy S25 Edge uses a lithium-ion battery like the rest of the S25 family. By new battery technology, the leaker could be referring to silicon-carbon, which could allow the company to squeeze in more capacity. If this rumor turns out to be true, it could make the Galaxy S26 Edge a more appealing device. Would a bigger battery be enough to sell you on a Galaxy S26 Edge? Let us know in the comments section below. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.