Mystery HTC handset running Android 4.0 and LTE could be replacement for the Incredible S

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A mysterious HTC handset has made an appearance today running Android 4.0.1 with HTC Sense 4.0. While we typically have handset names to associate with leaked images, there’s nothing really to go off of this time around. The front of the phone could easily be mistaken for a half dozen other HTC devices, but when you flip it over, the contoured plastic panel bears the signature design aesthetics of HTC’s Incredible line.

Phone Arena speculates that we could be looking at the DROID Incredible 3 or the mysterious HTC Fireball, but we have a feeling the phone will be the base design for the successor to last year’s HTC Incredible S which could morph into a variety of different phones for various carriers.

Moving on to the specs, the mystery device features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor (most likely a Qualcomm S4), 1 GB of RAM, 8 megapixel camera with LED flash, front-facing VGA camera, LTE, an AMOLED display and Beats Audio. If the hardware configuration is correct, this device will be nearly identical the the upcoming HTC Ville which is expected to debut at Mobile World Congress. The only real difference is the handset’s 4 capacitive buttons compared to the Ville’s 3 button setup. Since this is still a prototype device, we expect subtle changes before the handset is officially unveiled to the world.

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When it comes to a release date for this device, we don’t have concrete information. My guess is that HTC will unveil this new phone at CTIA in May which means it’ll be late Q2 before this device launches in Europe and the US.

What do you think of this mysterious HTC handset? I’m digging the handset’s styling even though I’m a huge fan of HTC’s uni-body aluminum designs.

Source: Phone Arena

Nick started blogging about HTC in late 2007 on HTCsource.com and joined the Android and Me family in the summer of 2010. Tagged#amoled#ctia#DROID Incredible 3#htc#HTC Fireball#HTC Incredible 3#lte .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; }.nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } 40 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 17fonix232 02/10/12 9:27 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

That backplate looks something very ugly. Yes, sure, only one with such a remarkable design, but new and different doesn’t necessarily equals useful.

Reply 58amgala 02/10/12 9:39 AM Thumb upThumb down +8

I guess HTC won’t be ditching the capacitive buttons for OSD soft keys?

Reply 92Steve Heinrich 02/10/12 10:15 AM Thumb upThumb down +2

Yeah, I wonder when manufacturers are going to start ditching the hardware navigation buttons… probably have to wait until ICS saturates the market a little more. But still, this is an ICS phone… ugh.

Reply 20eallan 02/10/12 10:33 AM Thumb upThumb down +6

You don’t have to have software buttons for ICS. There’s no real practical reason to either. Give me those extra pixels and slap some buttons any any day.

Reply 58amgala 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down 0

I’m confused…you are saying you don’t have to have software buttons for ICS, but you want more pixels. Planning the screen for OSD keys would increase the screen size, like with my Galaxy Nexus. It has a 4.65″ screen, and when needed the buttons take up .25″. If the GNex had capacitive buttons, the screen size would be 4.3″, so it would have a smaller screen.

Reply 88Jeff Pan 02/10/12 12:11 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

You are wasting real estate by putting hardware buttons there. Increase your screen space instead

Reply 100BiGMERF 02/10/12 1:10 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

still not liking sensewhich at all !

Reply 97damambt 16 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0

I couldn’t even tell that was ics from the screenshots, looks like every other HTC phone. What matters is what’s under the hood.

69tmihai20 02/10/12 11:05 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

I don’t think those capacitive buttons are that bad. I looks a lot like my Evo 3D, I don’t know what to say about the backplate though. It still early for them to give up on any kind of buttons. Soft keys will take a good part of your screen, on a 720p resolution they won’t occupy that much screen. Too bad it doesn’t show what kernel is using, I am hoping for a 3.0+ kernel on ICS.

Reply 26Hue Three of Five 02/10/12 9:42 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

I love everything about the Incredible line of phones. The Inc2 was one of the best phones I have owned. If this comes to Verizon as LTE, I am getting this one immediately! Don’t like the white and silver color mix though.

Reply 7Jake Gall 02/10/12 11:37 AM Thumb upThumb down +1

If that’s the case you should jump on the Rezound.

Reply 26Hue Three of Five 02/10/12 12:27 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

Yea I have the Bionic right now, and it made me really dislike Moto. I am thinking of getting the Rezound or Nexus, but I am kind of apprehensive of the Samsung because I have had radio issues in the past with Samsung phones. The Rezound seems to be bug free.

Reply THoGuest 02/10/12 9:48 AM Thumb upThumb down +1

Change is hard but they need to get rid of the capacitive buttons

Reply 20eallan 02/10/12 10:32 AM Thumb upThumb down +1

Seriously, why?

Reply 53Gomez 02/10/12 11:11 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

In my opinion it more appealing without the buttons. Its ICS why bother with the buttons.

Reply 98Nick Gray 02/10/12 11:22 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

Having on-screen buttons effectively reduces your usable screen space (except when you are in a full-screen game or video). To give you the same amount of room, HTC would need to equip the phone with a larger display which would cost more. I’m sure HTC wouldn’t be too keen on reducing it’s profit margins, so the extra cost will probably be pass on to consumers.

Reply 92spazby 02/10/12 10:02 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

Not bad at all

Reply YvesGuest 02/10/12 10:08 AM Thumb upThumb down -1

I thought HTC wanted fresh idea’s? That being said get rid of the capacitive buttons or least to three and you could have a decent phone. My girl wants a replacement for her Dinc and it’s hard to stop her from getting a iPhone. All the other Droid phones for Verizon is too big.

Reply 37Chris Lewis 02/10/12 10:17 AM Thumb upThumb down +4

I’m sure the reasons for the buttons is due to the fact that phones take at least 12-18 months to designed and bring to the market. ICS wasn’t announced till late last year and I doubt this phone was developed within that time. Just give it some time and those buttons will be gone…

Reply Fisher223Guest 02/10/12 12:04 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

But didn’t HTC swap out the 4 buttons on the HTC Ville already and cut it down to just three?

Reply 92kazahani 02/10/12 10:08 AM Thumb upThumb down +5

Am I the only one who hates white phones that are still black on the front?

Reply 57Jorge Vieira 02/10/12 10:15 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

I didnt but it grew on me.

Reply 20eallan 02/10/12 10:31 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

A white bezel is too distracting for me. I actually swapped my iPad 2 from white to black because it bugged me so much.

Reply Fisher223Guest 02/10/12 12:03 PM Thumb upThumb down -1

I’m with you 100% on this one. Make it all white or don’t even bother.

Reply 57Jorge Vieira 02/10/12 10:16 AM Thumb upThumb down +3

Htc needs a big refresh and this dosent look like it to me.

Reply 70ags29 02/10/12 10:31 AM Thumb upThumb down +3

Same old design. Last year’s specs. And they wonder why HTC’s lead is declining? Cmon..

Reply DerekGuest 02/10/12 10:44 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

What?! Last year’s specs? The Snapdragon S4 is brand new. Last year would’ve been S3. Also, its got an AMOLED display, not S-LCD. The 1GB RAM and 8MP cam are hold overs from the Rezound, but they’re still top of the line.

Reply 69tmihai20 02/10/12 11:08 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

Commentator Chris Lewis really nailed it. HTC just announced HTC Studio, they couldn’t have come with a phone that easily. Give HTC some time and they will come with something that will be at least interesting. If they don’t, they will just sink even deeper.

Reply 98Nick Gray 02/10/12 11:25 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

I’m looking forward to what HTC Studio is going to come up with, but don’t think it’s all doom and gloom for HTC. HTC is still posting great profit numbers (though they were lower than the previous year), something that Motorola, LG and other smartphone manufacturers can’t seem to do.

Things will change and HTC’s profits will only get better,

DerekGuest 02/10/12 10:42 AM Thumb upThumb down 0

Me Like!!! I want ICS on my Rezound…PLEASE!!!

Reply JBCGuest 02/10/12 10:47 AM Thumb upThumb down -1

This is awesome! Looks NOTHING like any of their other phones.

Reply Fisher223Guest 02/10/12 12:01 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

I’m digging the look, but I hope its a Super AMOLED display. Doesn’t the 4G LTE logo on the bootup screen look identical to Verizon’s? There’s no Verizon branding on the phone, but I’d kill for an updated DROID Inc with LTE and an S4 chip. Battery life should be killer since HTC can ditch the stand alone LTE chip that they currently use in their LTE devices.

Reply hTCGuest 02/10/12 12:35 PM Thumb upThumb down 0

is this supposed to be one the high end ?

sure looks like it has S4 snapdragon and ICS, but where is 720p screen?

I’m thinking they still have physical buttons because they do not have long enough screen (720p wink* wink*)

And the screen is not even Super Amoled + its just plain Super Amoled….

800 x 480 pentile = 800 x 480 x 2 sub pixel = 768000 total pixel

800 x 480 RGB = 800 x 480 x 3 sub pixel = 1152000 total pixel

960 x 540 pentile = 960 x 540 x 2 sub pixel = 1036800 total pixel (lower than 800 x 480 RGB)

apple retina = 960 x 640 x 3 sub pixel = 1843200 total pixel

HD super amoled = 1280 x 720 x 2 sub pixel = 1843200 total pixel

HD RGB (rezound) = 1280 x 720 x 3 sub pixel = 2764800 total pixel

I think qHD pentile is inferior to WVGA RGB, they should’ve sticked with 720p lcd

Reply 94Richard Yarrell 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down -6

Not surprised by this in my mind the Droid Incredible was on of Verizons best devices the last 2years. I could see this in June or July which matches the last two incredible launches. If that name lasts before launch…

Reply 94redraider133 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +1

the original inc launched end of april. Once again fail on your part…..

Reply squiddy20Guest 16 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2

Hahaha! Not only the original, but the DInc 2 as well! April 29th for the OG, and the 28th for the Dinc 2. VERY epic fail!
What’s wrong Dick, can’t use your “bitch slapping” Galaxy Nexus with that 10 GB of data to do a simple google search? How pathetic.

Reply jspiby2Guest 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +3

This is coming out Q2 2012! this is the same specs practically as my sensation which I’ve had since middle of last year, HTC get a grip stop bringing mid range phones out just stick with high end phones then if someone wants a mid range phone get one of the older phones, stop wasting money on these silly phones use the money to update all (or most) your older phones to ICS that way people who want mid range get best of both worlds.

Reply 98Nick Gray 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down -4

As I mentioned in the article, this will probably feature a Qualcomm S4 chip which is about 40% more powerful that the S 3 chip found in the Sensation.

Reply jspiby2Guest 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +2

Still the normal user wouldn’t be able to tell the difference let’s be honest, I still see this phone as mid range, I stand by what I said, all phones should keep improving you should not need to bring mid range phones out,by the time this phone comes out HTC Edge will be out (or what ever they name it) which is a high end phone. Which would you buy?

Reply 96Nathan D. 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down 0

the phone spec wise is nice and it doesn’t look half bad neither

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