HTC's Desire 500: a mid-range handset with a quad-core, 1.2GHz processor

Phone also features a 4.3-inch screen and onboard storage expandle up to 64Gb with microSD

HTC have announced the launch of a new mid-range handset for the UK market. With a 1.2GHz quad-core processor the Desire 500 should be fairly nippy, but with no price plans available it’s not certain whether it’ll be worth the money.

The new handset comes with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.6-megapixel lens on the front and support for microSD cards offering expandable onboard storage up to 64GB. There's also a 4.3-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution.

As ever, HTC are keen to push their home-brewed features for Android’s stock OS, including HTC BlinkFeed (an aggregator for social and news content) and Video Highlights, a tool that takes images and video clips from a day’s shooting, creating a quick, 30-second show reel.

HTC CEO Peter Chou said: “It is perfect for people who are always-on-the-go, it enables powerful multitasking and live-streaming of important and interesting information, and it boasts an excellent camera and that bring your important moments to life.”

The handset is available in either black or blue, with NFC and dual-SIM support on offer “in some markets.” Expect to see the Desire 500 in UK shops some time this August.