The upcoming HTC M7 has been pictured out in the wild ahead of its official unveiling. Not only are these the clearest shots of the device we’ve seen to date, but they also show off its new Sense 5.0 user interface, and a new button arrangement beneath the display. This isn’t believed to be a final version of the device, but it’s likely to be the closest we’ll get until its official unveiling.

The images were sent to Android Police by a “helpful tipster,” who also provided screenshots of the latest Sense UI. At first glance, the device doesn’t look too dissimilar to the recently released Droid DNA, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice a number of differences.

First, the front-facing camera is now on the right side of the handset, while its earpiece is significantly smaller and sits just above the HTC logo. The home and multitasking buttons beneath the display are — for some reason — arranged differently, and on the back, the flash sits to the left of the camera.

The device is missing an FCC logo and other certification marks, so it’s not believed to be a final model. However, its design is not expected to change ahead of its unveiling.

As you can see from these photos and the screenshots below, HTC Sense looks significantly different on this device. The Taiwanese company appears to have opted for a more modern design, not only with its icons, but also with its clock widget, which loses that trademark flip clock look. There are also new widgets for news, social feeds, and help tips and tutorials.

These images of the M7 are the clearest we’ve so far, and they appear to be the most accurate. But it’s worth noting that until HTC announces the device, we cannot be certain they are indeed genuine. The company is expected to make its announcement at Mobile World Congress in February. Cult of Android will be there, so we’ll bring you the news as soon as we have it.

• SourceAndroid Police