The HTC M4 has been outed in what is said to be a leaked photograph of the smartphone, Digital Spy said.

PhoneArena posted the image on its website, depicting a device with a near-identical form factor to the flagship HTC One.

Alleged specs for the handset were also published, suggesting that it will be a mid-range entry to the Taiwanese firm's Android range with a smaller 4.3-inch screen offering a 720p resolution.

The HTC M4 is said to be powered by a dual-core processor and feature LTE-capable radio, 16GB of on-board storage and the same Ultrapixel-equipped camera sensor as the HTC One.

HTC's cheaper alternative to the HTC One is expected to face competition from Samsung's rumoured Galaxy S4 Mini, which has been tipped for a summer debut.

The HTC M4 has been tipped for release at the end of the current fiscal quarter.