HTC has been mysteriously calm and quiet after HTC One series release earlier this year. New phone releases have been few and far between. However, the Verge has obtained and leaked photos of the latest unreleased smartphone.

The phone is being called HTC Proto, which sounds like a codename and a shorter form of prototype. The upcoming smartphone is said to feature a 4.0-inch WVGA resolution capacitive touchscreen display and a Dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon S4 processor on Qualcomm chipset. These specs suggest that ‘Proto’ could be the follow up version of HTC One V.

Based purely on the photos leaked, we can safely deduce that HTC Proto bids adieu to One V’s curved chin design and exhibits rounded edges like other models in the high-end HTC One series. Beats Audio integration is confirmed as apparent from the backside logo. The device is expected to sport a 5MP rear camera, but photos suggest there won’t be a front camera on it.

There is no official word from HTC regarding HTC Proto’s release, however the Verge opined:

We don’t yet know when or where the Proto (and any possible stablemates) might be introduced, but IFA — where rival Samsung is expected to have a big showing with its Galaxy Note II — is a possibility.

The IFA exhibition begins in Berlin on August 31, 2012.

Source: TheVerge