The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 may have more physical storage inside than Apple advertises. A Chinese hardware researcher claims both watches use a 128GB NAND flash die, even though Apple lists 64GB of storage for each model.
That would mean the watches could have twice the physical flash capacity that users can access. Apple has not explained the reported configuration, and a teardown is needed to confirm what is actually inside the new models.
Apple Watch Series 12 And Ultra 4 May Use 128GB NAND
The reported 128GB NAND applies to both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Apple lists 64GB of storage for each, so the other half would not be available as user storage.
There is another clue supporting the possibility. A 128GB NAND storage profile linked to Apple’s T8320 chip was found earlier this month in references related to the new Apple Watch models.
That discovery alone does not confirm that Apple is shipping 128GB NAND in retail watches, but it makes the latest hardware report more interesting.
Why Would Apple Use A 128GB NAND Die?
Apple could have several reasons for installing a larger NAND component while limiting the storage available to users.
Part of the flash could be reserved for system operations or temporary data. The Apple Watch also constantly processes information from its sensors, although there is no evidence yet that sensor data is the reason for the additional capacity.
Another possibility is storage durability. NAND flash wears out as data is repeatedly written and erased. Having more physical storage than the system exposes can give the device more room to manage those writes.
Neither explanation has been confirmed by Apple, so it is too early to say why the watches might use a 128GB NAND die.
Apple Has Done Something Similar Before
This would not be the first time Apple has used more physical memory than the amount listed in a device’s specifications.
Teardowns of M4 iPad Pro models in 2024 found that some 8GB RAM configurations contained 12GB of physical RAM. Apple still limited the amount available to the system to 8GB.
The Apple Watch situation may have a different explanation, but the iPad Pro example shows that Apple’s advertised capacity does not always have to match the full physical capacity of the underlying memory component.
A Teardown Should Settle The Question
A teardown of the Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 should show whether a 128GB NAND die is actually being used. It could also reveal whether the additional capacity is reserved for system functions or handled in another way.
Even if the 128GB NAND claim turns out to be correct, it would not give Apple Watch owners 128GB of usable storage. Apple currently lists 64GB for both models, and there is no indication that the remaining capacity can be accessed through watchOS.
Until the hardware is examined directly, the 128GB NAND claim remains unconfirmed.
(via Weibo)
