Like most things in tech, mobile chipset manufacturer Qualcomm wants to make things smaller. How small exactly? Try 10 nanometres (nm), which is the size of the transistors in the company's latest offering - the Snapdragon 835.

Qualcomm showcased the new chipset, which was designed in collaboration with Samsung utilising the latter's FinFET process in order to make the miniscule chip. Constructed at the microscopic level, Qualcomm notes that the 10 nm chip is comprised of materials 100 times smaller than a standard nanometre. To put that in perspective, the company notes that 10 nm is the size of a single water molecule.

While its dimensions are certainly noteworthy in their own right, the Snapdragon 835 is not small on processing power. According to Qualcomm, thanks to Samsung's input, the new 10 nm chip allows for a 27% improvement in performance and 30% less power consumption than its 14 nm predecessor.

When will we see smartphones sporting the new chip? Qualcomm says information on devices is forthcoming, so watch this space.