HTC has yet to reveal its smartphone range for 2014, although rumors of the M8/One+ have been gathering for a while. The latest HTC-related leak doesn’t deal with top-end hardware though, and instead gives us a glimpse of a potential mid-range challenger. The phone hasn’t been given a name, although we wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being called a Desire, and the leaked pictures hint at a new type of design from HTC.
The images (not including the one at the top, though) show a set of very brightly colored devices, with attractive, slightly curvy rear panels. The mint green is particularly good-looking. Nokia has recently found success with making its phones in lots of colors, as has Apple, and if the rumors are correct, LG and Google may bring us a colorful Nexus 5 too.
However, while the body may grab our attention first, inside the mysterious phone is something equally as intriguing. According to the leak, HTC has struck a deal with MediaTek, and will use the new MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor to power the device. Previous Desire phones have used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, but MediaTek’s equipment undoubtably comes at a cheaper price, and has recently found a home inside the Huawei Honor 3X and the Alcatel Idol X+.
If the other specifications are correct, the phone will come with a 5-inch screen, a 720p resolution, 1.5GB of RAM, and an 8-megpixel camera. It’s also expected to run Android 4.3 with HTC Sense 5.5 over the top, and not as one may have speculated, the new China Operating System. Announced last week, COS is China’s answer to Android, and was created with HTC’s assistance.
The leak comes from a Chinese source, and is worded to indicate the phone is destined for release there. MediaTek’s octa-core chip is a headline grabber, and the design seen in these pictures should make the phone stand out, so let’s hope this new HTC gets a wider international release too. Perhaps we may learn more during Mobile World Congress.
