HTC is gearing up to launch yet another Touch phone that would outperform most of its touchscreen competitors, a MoDaCo leak suggests. So far known only as the Touch HD, the Windows Mobile 6.1 handset would revolve around an extremely high-resolution 800x480 widescreen while using new design elements to keep the design small. The directional pad of the Diamond and upcoming Opal disappears entirely and leaves just the normal calling, back and home buttons.

The device would also be faster inside than most of HTC's lineup, with a 528MHz Qualcomm processor at its heart and 256MB of RAM. Internet access over 3G is known and will likely involve HSPA; Bluetooth 2.0 has also been spotted.

How soon the Touch HD might be released is unknown. Available images suggest the prototype may have been photographed in HTC's native Taiwan region and so may still be in early development at the smartphone maker. HTC nonetheless typically launches versions of its Touch phones internationally, including in North America.