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Johannesburg - In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, leaks point strongly to Apple launching a new premium smartphone called the “iPhone X” at an event on Tuesday.
It is believed the ‘X’ - standing for the Roman numeral ‘10’ - will be launched alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
In total, three new phones will launch.
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are expected to be upgraded versions of the iPhone 7, and include improvement such as better battery life.
But it is the iPhone X that is generating the most online buzz.
The latest nomenclature was thrown into the mix just before Apple’s annual iPhone launch event, set for Tuesday 19:00 local time.
The information leak about the three new smartphones was hidden in Apple’s code for its upcoming software update to iOS11, which will be revealed together with the new devices on Tuesday.
Everything from images to specifications of the new smartphone have leaked ahead of the event.
According to the leaks, the iPhone X will adopt a new design face with an extended screen offering a borderless display.
Leaked images, meanwhile, show that the new display is expected to begin at the bottom of the device going up to the top, with a panel for a selfie camera, a speaker and an ear sensor cutting into the screen.
The new edge-to-edge display is also expected to lead to Apple ditching its well-known home button, in favour of a sensor button embedded within the screen, and a fingerprint scanner possibly embedded underneath.
iPhone X: Six core A11 Fusion chip, wireless charging hints, Apple Pay + Face ID details, more https://t.co/Lkg8Js0yZP pic.twitter.com/lBFSJ5Aqde
— 9to5Mac ? (@9to5mac) September 10, 2017
The iPhone X's display is likely to fit in with trends of smartphone design today, as seen in recently released devices such as the Samsung S8 and Note8, and LG's G6.
Also expected to be included in the new device is a facial recognition feature, which will not only unlock it but also provide more security.
According to Bloomberg, leaked code has revealed that the facial scanner will be known as the Face ID. It has been designed to scan a user's features within a few hundred milliseconds, and can work even if the device is laying flat on a table.
Other features may include inductive (wireless charging), Bloomberg reported.
The iPhone X series is expected be priced at about $1 000 (R13 000) in the US.
* Fin24 will bring you live updates as the event unfolds on Tuesday evening.
