Apple’s latest and greatest iPhone is called the iPhone X, according to information pulled from a leaked “Gold Master” of iOS 11, the operating system said to power the new phone.
The same software leak also reveals the existence of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, which are based on a similar design to the existing iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. According to 9to5Mac, which was one of two blogs able to download iOS 11 before it was pulled from Apple’s servers, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus feature a faster processor, wireless charging, and a new glass back panel.
Unlike the iPhone 8, the iPhone X features an all-new design with an edge-to-edge 5.8-inch OLED display that removes the chunky bezels and home button. The design—which was originally shown in a separate software leak earlier this year—is a dramatic departure from iPhones to date, which have largely kept the same front-facing aesthetic since the launch of the original in 2007. By shrinking the bezels, much like Samsung did with the Galaxy S8, Apple can cram a larger display into a smaller body, making the device more comfortable to use with one hand.
In addition to confirmation on the iPhone X name, the iOS 11 GM also revealed other key specifications and features. Code inside the software suggests the iPhone X is powered by a new A11 fusion SoC, which features a six-core processor. Four are so-called “Mistral” high-performance cores, while the other two are low-power “Monsson” cores. By comparison, the A10 SoC that powers the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus features two high-performance cores and two low-power cores. The iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus sport 3GB of RAM, while the iPhone 8 contains just two.
Other features pulled from the software code include wireless charging support, Face ID (facial-recognition software that replaces Touch ID fingerprint security), and Animoji, which is described as “custom animated messages that use your voice and reflect your facial expressions.” Because it requires the use of face-tracking hardware, the Animoji feature will be exclusive to the iPhone X, which is said to feature a new depth-sensing 3D camera.
The iPhone X and iPhone are due to be revealed at an event on September 12. However, Apple has suffered a string of leaks that have revealed everything from the industrial design to the price, which is said to be a substantial $1,000/£1,000 for the entry-level iPhone X. However, so substantial is this latest leak that some sites are speculating whether it was an intentional leak or the work of a disgruntled employee.
Speaking to an anonymous source within the company, the BBC independently confirmed that an anonymous source within Apple provided both 9to5Mac and MacRumours with links to download iOS 11 GM, which had been obscured by long, unguessable URLs on Apple’s servers.
“Someone within Apple leaked the list of URLs to 9to5Mac and MacRumors,” wrote John Gruber of Daring Fireball. “I’m nearly certain this wasn’t a mistake but rather a deliberate malicious act by a rogue Apple employee. Whoever did this is the least-popular person in Cupertino. More surprises were spoiled by this leak than any leak in Apple history.”
The leaks will come as an embarrassment to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who vowed to make secrecy a priority after becoming chief executive of the company in 2012. In June, it was revealed that Apple had hired former employees at the National Security Agency to help catch leakers.
While surprises are unlikely for Apple’s September 12 event—even the upgraded Apple TV, now said to sport an A10X Fusion chip and 4K playback, has been leaked—details on pricing, amongst other software features, are expected.
Ars is liveblogging the event, which takes place at 6PM UK, 1PM EDT, and 10AM PDT.
This post originated on Ars Technica UK