Apple iPhone 8 Rumor Roundup: What We Know Before Tuesday's Launch Event

After months of speculation and hype, Apple will finally hold its fall press event Tuesday. While the conference is expected to feature products including the Apple TV and Apple Watch, the event is widely believed to be headlined by the latest update to the iPhone. Ahead of Tuesday’s press event, here’s what we’ll look to see with the new Apple iPhones:

Expect the iPhone X

Apple currently has the iPhone 7 on the market, but the company is expected to take a different approach to its newest phones. Digging into a leaked version of the iOS 11 firmware, developer Steve Troughton-Smith found several mentions that suggested Tuesday will include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.

It’s unclear yet how this could affect Apple’s traditional S-series release schedule. As with past iPhone refreshes like the 6S, the S series typically includes incremental updates at a midrange price point. The iPhone X is widely expected to be the high-end release that much of the pre-release speculation around the new iPhone has focused on.

A $1,000 Price Tag?

Apple products have traditionally been pricy, but the iPhone X has been rumored to break past precedent for iPhones. While analysts have disagreed on the exact price point for the new phone, it’s expected to start at around $1,000. This price range would be a significant bump from past releases — the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 — but falls in line with current high-end consumer smartphone releases. New Galaxy models from Samsung this year have been in the same $800 to $900 range.

Face ID Unlocks Your iPhone

In the same firmware leak, developers also found mentions of a “Face ID” feature that lines up with past rumors about a new mechanic for the iPhone. With this feature, users will be able to use their face to unlock an iPhone — assets within the leak included a video tutorial that showed a face rotating around.

At the moment, it’s uncertain if this will replace the fingerprint-based Touch ID which has been used on past iPhones. The iPhone X will feature a top-to-bottom display that removes the traditional home button, but analysts have varied on if the new iPhone will have a rear sensor, include screen-based fingerprint sensing or rely solely on Face ID.

Revamped Design

Keeping with the iPhone X’s upscale price tag, the iPhone X is expected to include a slate of new features not seen on past iPhones. Along with the expanded display, other features have reportedly included wireless charging and revamped camera hardware to support Apple’s augmented reality ambitions.