https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/5/23/17383428/apple-a12-7nm-processor-2018-iphones-production > Apple supplier TSMC has started mass production on the processors for this year's lineup of new iPhones, according to Bloomberg. The chip, which is expected to be called the A12, could be the first to use a 7-nanometer process in a commercial device, something the technology industry has been working toward for years. > 7nm technology refers to the density of transistors on a chip, though the precise specifications can differ between manufacturers. Using a smaller process allows for chips to be smaller, faster, and more efficient, and over time can lead to cost savings. Current leading processors on smartphones, like Apple's A11 Bionic and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845, are made with a 10nm process.