It’s been described as one of the biggest leaks in Apple history.

A new high-end model iPhone called the iPhone X will be released by Apple in the near future, according to an apparent information leak by the company in recent days. The name of the new phone – one of three alongside the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus – was the main reveal from an Apple information leak reported by two tech news sites, 9to5Mac and MacRumors, given access to an unreleased version of the iOS operating system ahead of an Apple Launch event on Tuesday. Apple blogger John Gruber wrote that he believed that the information was leaked deliberately by an Apple employee and that “more surprises were spoiled by this leak than any leak in Apple history”.

"As best I've been able to ascertain, these builds were available to download by anyone, but they were obscured by long, unguessable (URLs web addresses)," wrote Gruber. "Someone within Apple leaked the list of URLs to 9to5Mac and MacRumors. I'm nearly certain this wasn't a mistake, but rather a deliberate malicious act by a rogue Apple employee."

The BBC, meanwhile, were able to verify that both news sites were provided with links to an iOS 11 GM code (grand master code – used when a product is ready for release) and were able to download the iOS software from Apple servers. As well as the iPhone X, amongst the other features discovered in the information leak were references to a new Face ID system to replace the existing Touch ID process and pictures of new AirPod earphones and a new Apple watch. Apple will officially launch the iPhone 8 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple campus in Cupertino, California on Tuesday.