Taiwan's HTC on December 11 unveiled a new smartphone boasting a higher resolution display than the iPhone 5 just days before Apple's latest handset goes on sale on the island. The HTC Butterfly features a 5-inch screen with a pixel density of 440 ppi (pixels per inch) and full 1080p HD resolution, compared to the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen at 326 ppi at a lower resolution.

The new model, which is slimmer and curvier, is equipped with the latest 1.5 GHz Quad-Core S4 processor that allows users to surf the Internet and stream HD movies to their TV wirelessly at the same time, HTC said.

Its photo-taking and audio functions are also enhanced, with an ultra-wide front angle lens as well as a built-in amplifier for higher sound quality, the company said. HTC sells its own smartphones and also makes handsets for a number of leading US companies, including Google's Nexus One.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012