The ‘iPhone 8’ probably isn’t what you think it is

Apple is expected to reveal its newest generation of iPhones on Sept. 12 at a special fall media event, and now, we might have a better sense what they'll be called.

According to a 9to5Mac report, the names of the phones announced will be:

• iPhone 8

• iPhone 8 Plus

• iPhone Edition

The report cites a pair of third-party casemakers, who shared some insider info with 9to5Mac reporter Seth Weintraub.

The casemakers, one of which has products carried by the Apple Store, claims that sources within Apple's manufacturing partners in China told them the names of the upcoming devices.

The "Edition" moniker shouldn't come as a total surprise. Apple's high-end Watch configuration uses the same name, so it makes sense for an iPhone with deluxe features (and an expected $1,000-plus price tag) to be be called Edition, too. Japanese Apple blog Macotakara claimed the high-end iPhone would carry the name back in March, but the rumor hasn't been taken seriously until now.

Apple has long been expected to release three new phones this year: Two incremental updates to the current generation of iPhone 7 devices and one deluxe tenth anniversary version, complete with new features like an OLED edge-to-edge display and a new facial recognition feature to replace the Touch ID home button.

The lower-tier iPhones have been largely referred to by the "S" designation, however, to keep with Apple's naming conventions. The company could be abandoning its established patterns if the casemakers' info is true, however, leaving the "S" behind entirely in the new three device ecosystem.

The new names make sense for Apple's overall strategy. Releasing an iPhone 7S alongside an iPhone 8 gives the impression that the lower-level line of devices are obsolete, since they're a number behind. Bumping them up a digit will provide some extra space between last year's 7 models, even if they're only modest internal improvements.

We can't confirm any of this, of course, until Apple execs take the stage of the brand new Steve Jobs Theater to show off the new gadgets. The new phones will be the center of attention no matter what they're called, so stay tuned until the 12 for more updates on what you can expect to see when they drop.