HTC is set to announce its second-generation One — codenamed the “M8” — in March, but like a lot of the devices that came before it, the Taiwanese company has been unable to keep it under wraps until the big day.

Photos of the device that have surfaced online this week reveal a mysterious new sensor that sits above the handset’s rear-facing camera — plus a dual LED flash. The overall look of the handset itself, however, will be almost identical to its predecessor.

It’s unclear at this point what that new sensor might be. Some are calling it a second rear-facing camera that will allow the device to snap 3D videos and images — like the HTC Evo 3D — but that seems a little unlikely to us; it seems a strange place to put another camera.

Perhaps, then, that new sensor could be a fingerprint scanner. HTC has already introduced the One max with fingerprint scanning technology, and it’s widely believed that the second-generation one will follow suit.

There are some other changes on the device: there’s a second LED flash alongside the camera, its noise cancelation microphone has switched from the right side of the device to the left, and there appears to be no Beats Audio logo — though it’s possible that may be added later on in the production process.

Aside from the changes, the general look of the new One appears to be very similar to the original. That’s hardly a bad thing, though — the handset has received heaps of praise for its design and is widely regarded as one of the finest Android smartphones available in terms of hardware.

Recent reports have claimed the new HTC One will be unveiled at an event in New York City this March, but we’re quietly hoping HTC has a nice surprise up its sleeve for Mobile World Congress later this month.

• SourceHTCFamily.ru