A new HTC-Facebook smartphone called Myst could be in the works

HTC and Facebook have collaborated in the past, but the fruits of their combined labours have never really sold well. However, it seems the two companies feel they can give it another shot, if rumours of their next 'Facebook Phone' pan out.

According to UnwiredView, HTC is set to launch a Facebook-powered phone with dedicated software elements in Q2 2013. Called HTC Myst, the phone will have a 4.3-inch display and is poised to be a mid-range handset.

EvLeaks, which has a terrific track record of leaking details and pictures of upcoming handsets, reveals that the Myst will bundle the Facebook app, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and other Facebook applications. It could also be the handset that launches Facebook's redesigned News Feed experience on Android.

The alleged specs of the HTC Myst

The Myst will come with a Snapdragon S4 SoC with a dual-core 1.5GHz Krait CPU. The 1GB of RAM onboard will ensure speedy app loading times and smooth operation. The phone is likely to feature the new HTC Sense 5 UI over Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The device is said to have 16GB of internal storage, but there will be no microSD card expansion option. On the rear is a 5-megapixel camera, while a 1.6-megapixel unit does the job up front. Despite its mid-range position, the phone will come with an LTE chip. Rounding out the specs are the usual range of connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

HTC Salsa, the first-gen Facebook phone

However, we may see HTC pull some surprises with the Myst. For one, the HTC Status, one of the two Facebook-centric HTC phones, came with a 5-megapixel camera as well. Naturally, HTC would want to update that particular aspect of the specs sheet. We could even see an Ultrapixel camera sensor in the Myst, especially considering Facebook’s new focus on making the social network a more immersive visual experience.

Late last year, there were some murmurs of an HTC-Facebook smartphone called the HTC Opera UL. 'Myst' could just be the new title for the phone, but we don’t have any official word from HTC or Facebook on the subject. The HTC Myst will is rumoured to start shipping this spring in the US.