Apple looks set to unveil a special edition device believed to be called the "iPhone X" when the technology giant holds a live event at its new California headquarters.

Details of the new model were revealed in an apparent leak after the name of the phone, along with two others called the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, were reported by two news sites given access to an unreleased version of the iOS operating system.

The BBC claims to have confirmed an anonymous source was behind the leak to Apple-focused publications code9to5Mac and MacRumors.

The special edition phone could also reportedly feature a 3D face-scanning camera and remove the traditional home button from the front of the device for the first time.

The firm's Tuesday event will mark the tenth anniversary of the smartphone, which first went on sale in June 2007.

It will be the first event to take place at the firm's multibillion-dollar Apple Park campus, inside the Steve Jobs Theatre, named after the company's late co- founder and the man who unveiled the first iPhone.

A new Apple Watch and a 4K resolution Apple TV are also reportedly due to be announced at the event.

There have also been reports the special edition phone could be priced as high as $AU1600.