HTC’s next smartphone leaks online ahead of April 12 event

PanARMENIAN.Net - HTC is expected to unveil its latest flagship smartphone on Tuesday, April 12, but a new leak gives a better look yet at the device, The Verge said.

It's rumored to be called the HTC 10 (it's replacing last year's HTC M9, but the "M" is gone), and Dutch site GSM Helpdesk claims to have accurate information and photos of the new handset. According to the site, the phone will be available "worldwide" in mid-May.

As reported earlier, HTC is sticking with its tried-and-true design language, but with oversized beveled edges on the rear this time around. This generation does appear to be borrowing more from last year's One A9, however, with a simplified layout that lacks the bold HTC logo and the distinctive dual speakers found on the front of HTC's past flagships, The Verge says.

That said, GSM Helpdesk claims that stereo BoomSound speakers are still present, even if they aren't plainly visible in the photo. Going off of an official teaser from HTC, it seems a speaker built into the earpiece will pair with a smaller speaker along the bottom edge for a decidedly non-traditional stereo BoomSound setup, The Verge says. There's also a traditional physical home button, which is said to be equipped with a fingerprint sensor — a must for any flagship in 2016, according to the technology news website.

The rumored specifications line up with previous leaks: a 5.2-inch, QHD (1440 x 2560) display powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset and 4GB of RAM. There's also said to be a 12-megapixel "Ultra Pixel" camera with optical image stabilization and laser autofocus. The front camera will reportedly come in at 5 megapixels, with OIS as well, which is a rare feat. The bottom edge is said to carry a USB-C port, and the device is reportedly powered by a hefty 3,000mAh battery. The phone's expected to be available in black, gold, or silver, the latter of which will be available with a black or white front bezel, The Verge says.