HTC has been leaking like a sieve for the last few weeks. The latest goodie to get out of Taiwan is the HTC Zeta, a rumored Ice Cream Sandwich phone with a 2.5 gigahertz Snapdragon processor. Other specs include Ice Cream Sandwich, a full gig of RAM and 4.5-inch 720p display. Naturally, there’s no availability, pricing or verification in sight.

This one goes squarely in the “rumor” category. To round out that unbelievable processor you get 32GB of built-in storage, Sense UI, Beats (see the logo on the bottom) and a 1,830mAh battery. The strangely exposed 8MP battery on the back is twinned to a forward-facing cam with 1.3Mp. For something with a 4.5-inch screen the device is a little chunky at 9.8mm, so I’ll go ahead and add fuel to the fire by guessing that it has LTE as well. Remember that capacitive buttons don’t automatically mean that the device isn’t running Ice Cream Sandwich.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this one probably isn’t real. The sharp edges are a pretty radical design departure for HTC, and there’s a good reason that most devices designed to go in your pocket don’t have sharp corners. That crazy 2.5Ghz processor is suspect too; a Snapdragon of that caliber will be available soon, but why upstage your entire product line, including the upcoming Edge, so soon? I’m guessing this is a commendable but fake fan render. Still, I could certainly be wrong, and if I am, expect to see the Zeta or something like it at Mobile World Congress in February.

[via Engadget]