On June 13, it was reported that the smaller the process used to make chips, the more transistors can be accommodated inside the chips, which means stronger performance and lower power consumption. The SoC used by the original iPhone was made with a 45nm process, but now the flagship SoC, including Snapdragon 855, is made with a 7nm process. In addition, due to the use of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) technology, chip manufacturers can more accurately design the layout of integrated circuits (ICs), thereby improving chip performance.

According to media reports, TSMC plans to start mass production of 5nm chips in the first quarter of next year. At present, many chips of smart phones are produced by TSMC. Preliminary data shows that the number of transistors in these chips will be 1.8 times that of 7nm chips, and the operating speed may be increased by 15%. Recent reports show that Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 will be produced by Samsung rather than TSMC. The SoC will use Samsung's 7nm EUV process, so the iPhone released in 2020 may be the first smartphone to use 5nm transistors.

According to TechWeb, TSMC is waiting for the relevant license to produce 3nm chips in Hsinchu, Taiwan, from 2022. Zhuang Zishou, the head of TSMC's factory affairs office, said that the company would conduct research and development of 2nm chips in the same city to avoid "brain drain".

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