First pictures of the new HTC 10 smartphone and release date details leaked

HTC decided to wait until after Mobile World Congress to start teasing their new phone

Early images of the HTC 10 have already been leaked (HTC/VentureBeat)

The first images of HTC's upcoming smartphone have been released, after the hype surrounding all the unveilings at Mobile World Congress (MWC) has died down.

As VentureBeat reports, the new phone will be called the HTC 10, now that the company has apparently shed the 'One' prefix they usually give their phones.

It'll also have a similar design to its predecessor, the One M9, with a curved metal back and tapered edges, as renders published by famed leaker Evan Blass show.

The design of the HTC 10 takes inspiration from the One M9, its predecessor (Pic: HTC/VentureBeat) (HTC/VentureBeat)

These images are only computer renders, so some of the details of the design aren't quite clear - but it looks like the HTC 10 will have an all-glass front and a much more circular camera lens on the rear, compared to the One M9.

At any rate, we'll know more soon. Blass reported that the phone will be unveiled in mid-April, possibly being released to the public in early to mid-May.

HTC have already started the teaser campaign, posting a vague picture of the phone's outline on social media during MWC, and more recently releasing a cryptic video about their 'obsession' with creating the best phones.

Watch this space for more rumours and pictures of the new HTC phone as they come out.