Images of HTC's first effort in a bid to target the premium affordable smartphone market, the Desire 8, have been leaked out online this morning. HTC previously admitted its neglect of low-end phones was a mistake and that it is looking to push harder in building a compelling portfolio of affordable devices. It is widely speculated that this Desire 8 handset will spearhead this plan.
Chinese website MyDrivers was responsible for the leak of this upcoming HTC handset it calls the 'New Desire 8'. According to Engadget this is a genuine product and has been confirmed by its own sources.
The new smartphone is said to be a dual-SIM, 5.5-inch screened device (resolution currently unknown), making it the largest non-flagship HTC phone since the Desire 700. The Desire 8 will also have a 13MP rear camera (not an 'UltraPixel' model) and a 5MP front-facing camera with a 'beautification mode'.
The product photo also shows the HTC One-influenced design utilised, with its trademark dual front BoomSound speakers and Sense 5 on-screen. It is also noticeable that the device is missing hardware capacitive buttons, suggesting it is adopting the HTC M8's on-screen navigation buttons. Reportedly the device will come in white, red, yellow, orange and cyan colour options.
The on-screen date in the photo suggests a possible Beijing launch on 18th March, but speculation that the device may be announced and on show at the MWC in Barcelona would make the Beijing event only interesting to Chinese smartphone fans.
