Our first look at the then-HTC-M7 showed us a phone that appeared drastically different from the hardware we subsequently saw in follow-up renders and pics. The handset featured extensive grille designs on both the top and bottom of its face, reminiscent of the sort of thing we see at the top of the 8X, but far larger, possibly suggesting stereo speakers. While that layout hadn’t appeared since, it’s now back courtesy of tipster evleaks, just a few days after he claimed that the M7 will actually arrive as the HTC One.

In the newly leaked render, we see that same old design married to a screenshot of what appears to be Sense 5.0. While the general layout of this pic matches the earlier render, there are a few small changes that make it clear this isn’t the same old image: the phone’s beveled edge now appears quite a bit more chromed-out (though that could just be shadow effects), and the front-facing camera has a new lighting accent.

The Sense layout here matches what we’ve learned to expect from the UI thanks to prior leaks, and you’ll notice that the calendar is set to February 19, the date when we hope to hear the HTC One finally announced.

With only a week to go until HTC’s event, this is an intriguing spin on One rumors; has everyone else been wrong, and that first leak was right all along? What if we’re really looking at two separate phones, the M7 and the One? We’ll find out soon enough.

Update: We’re not sure what to make of this, but all three of those names with Facebook accounts featured in this image appear to match up with people in the Orlando, Florida area, and one of them – Justin Mezzell – is a graphic designer; should this be making us suspicious?

Source: evleaks (Twitter)