Apple's next iPhone could come with a transparent screen, according to a patent granted to the company.

The technology could pave the way for Apple's step into augmented reality.

The patent also includes an OLED screen - something that has been rumoured from a number of sources to feature on the iPhone 8.

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Apple's next iPhone could come with a transparent screen, according to a patent granted to the company. Stock image of a futuristic transparent phone, pictured

IPHONE 8 RUMOURS Several rumours have been circulating about the iPhone 8, and suggest the next device may have: - Dual-lens 3D camera - Augmented reality to generate real-time views of surroundings - Curved glass casing - Plastic OLED screen - Wireless charging - A folding element - New 5 inch (12.7 centimetre) and 5.8 inch (14.7 centimetre) models - A new 'pure white' model - Aluminum back will be replaced with two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle Advertisement

'One or more openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object,' the patent says.

'Display pixels in the window region may be used in forming a heads-up display.'

Current features on the phone's face, like the camera, ear speaker and light sensors, could be hidden beneath the screen.

This is not the first evidence that points towards the world of augmented reality, that was made popular last year with the rise of Pokemon Go.

The iPhone maker is believed to be working with Carl Zeiss on an augmented reality project, which could go on sale this year.

The wearable headset would connect wirelessly to iPhones and show information that is superimposed onto a user's view of the real world.

'A Zeiss employee confirmed the rumors that Apple and Carl Zeiss AG are working on a light pair of augmented reality/mixed reality glasses that may be announced this year,' blogger Roberty Scoble wrote earlier this week.

The firm has talked about the project with potential suppliers for Google Glass-style headsets.

'Openings in the display may form a window through which a user of the device may view an external object,' the patent says

Earlier this week, another rumour surfaced saying the new phone will be designed with a stainless steel forging process that brings together two reinforced glass panels supported by a metal frame.

The rumour was first reported by Chinese newspaper DigiTimes, which revealed the new components would be ordered from Foxconn electronics US-based Jabil – firms who worked with Apple in creating the iPhone 4, reports 9To5Mac.

'The metal bezel will be made of stainless steel using a forging process to enhance its sturdiness and reduce costs and manufacturing time,' reports DigiTimes.

THE END OF GOOGLE GLASS Alphabet discontinued its own wearable glass headset, Google Glass, and closed the social media account linked to the device earlier this year. This ends its attempt to popularise the expensive devices with consumers. The device received plenty of attention when it was launched in 2012, but quickly ran into problems with its awkward appearance and privacy concerns over video recording. Advertisement

Other than giving the iPhone 8 a sleeker design, this move will ensure the glass panels in the front and back hold together.

And it should decrease costs by 30 per cent to 50 per cent.

Using stainless steel could send the iPhone 8 back in time, as this metal alloy was originally used on the iPhone 4 variants.

However, it would also mean this will be one of Apple's strongest smartphones yet.

This speculation is consistent with a major rumour – the iPhone could feature a curved OLED, which lets Apple include an edge-to-edge screen.

Aside from the rumours regarding the iPhone 8's body design, Apple received a new patent that also points to an edge-to-edge screen.

The patent, titled ‘Electronic devices having displays with openings’ describes a method that places electronic components – such as cameras and speakers – underneath the screen.

The latest rumour to hit the web comes from an ‘upstream supply chain’ that says the Cupertino company is ditching the aluminium back cover. Instead, it will be designed with a stainless steel forging process .Pictured is an iPhone 8 concept render

The patent, titled ‘Electronic devices having displays with openings’ describes a method that places electronic components – such as cameras and speakers – underneath the screen. The openings would be so small they would be ‘imperceptible to the human eye’

According to AppleInsider, the openings on the screen would be so small they would be ‘imperceptible to the human eye’ – resulting in a ‘true edge-to-edge screen’.

This setup would also make it possible to add in various sensors inside of the phone that could transmit information across the display.

‘An electronic component may be mounted in alignment with the one or more openings in the display,’ reads the patent filed in February 2015.

‘Signals associated with the electronic component may pass through the openings.’

Apple could be moving forward with this design, as the firm is up against other smartphone makers to design the thinnest and compact smartphone. And the best way to do this is to remove all of the features from the outer areas and hide them underneath the screen

‘The signals may include acoustic signals, electromagnetic signals such as radio-frequency electromagnetic signals, and light.

‘The electronic component may be a structure that uses light such as a camera, a light sensor, a light-based proximity sensor, a status indicator light, a light-based touch sensor array, or a secondary display that has display pixels that may be viewed through the openings.’

Apple could be moving forward with this design, as the firm is up against other smartphone makers to design the thinnest and compact smartphone.

And the best way to do this is to remove all of the features from the outer areas and hide them underneath the screen.

The new design will bring together two reinforced glass panels supported by a metal frame. This will allow for an edge-to-edge screen, which is another rumour that has been floating around the web (pictured are artists impressions of the iPhone 8)

Just a month after the iPhone 7 hit the market, rumours began circulating about what to expect in 2017.

One of these speculations was the handset could feature an all-glass casing.

Experts say that the transition from metal to glass casing is key if Apple is to introduce a wireless charging feature in its next iPhone. The rumours were obtained by MacRumours, and come from Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities.

Mr Kuo is uncertain whether a wireless charger will be bundled with all new iPhones, but is convinced that the feature will appear in the iPhone 8.

A metal alloy phone casing could potentially cause wireless charging speeds to be reduced, which is why a glass chassis could be used instead.

iOS users may have also heard that there could be three iPhone 8 smartphones to choose from this year – oppose to the traditional two Apple releases every year.

IPHONE 7 IN JET WHITE? When Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 in September, its brand new 'jet black' design sold out in a matter of hours. But it appears that a new 'jet white' version could soon be hitting stores. A video has emerged online which hints at what the white version could look like, if Apple does release such a device. Could this be the Jet White iPhone 7? pic.twitter.com/pHoDiZ63ON — Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) December 27, 2016 Reports of a new white version first appeared in November, when Japanese site, Mac Otakara, suggested that Apple would add a sixth color option to its iPhone 7 line-up. Sources speaking to the website said: 'Apple seems to have a plan to add a pure white model to iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus.' The website cited the source as a 'supplier'. 'But this information may be unreliable,' the site added. While no official 'jet white' iPhone has emerged yet, a video has appeared on Twitter which hints at what the device may look like. The post, by Sonny Dickson, a technology leaking site, says: 'Could this be the Jet White iPhone 7?' alongside a video showing an iPhone 7 and an iPhone 7 Plus, both with white casings. Advertisement

According to Nikkei, there will be one premium model with a curved edge-to-edge OLED display alongside two models that have standard LCD displays. Citing a supply chain source, Nikkei says Apple will release the three iPhones in the following sizes: 5.5 inches, 5 inches, and 4.7 inches.

'Apple has tentatively decided that all the 5.5-inch, 5-inch and 4.7-inch models will have glass backs, departing from metal casings adopted by current iPhones, and Biel and Lens are likely to be providing all the glass backs for the new iPhones next year,' the source said.

All three iPhone 8 models will use glass supplied by Biel Crystal Manufactory and Lens Technology in China for both the front and back,