Photos: HTC Sensation dual-core smartphone

The HTC Sensation is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor...

HTC has unveiled the HTC Sensation, the latest in a line of smartphones from HTC that have challenged the dominance of established smartphone market leaders Nokia, RIM and Apple.

HTC is the latest smartphone maker to use a dual-core processor. The Sensation comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor.

According to HTC CEO Peter Chou, smartphones have become "pocket-sized entertainment centres" and the HTC Sensation has been designed to enhance the entertainment aspect of smartphones.

The HTC Sensation features a 4.3-inch widescreen HD display which allows its owner to watch films without cropping.

The Sensation also features an eight-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and an instant-capture function that lets users access the camera from the lock screen.

Budding film-makers can record full HD video with stereo sound on the device. A new Video Trimmer tool allows users to edit videos directly from their handset.

HTC says the Sensation's aluminium unibody, pictured above, has been designed to give the handset a "premium look and feel".

The new smartphone is the first HTC handset to feature HTC Watch, an application that gives users the ability to buy or rent films and television programmes. According to HTC, the application offers improved download times thanks to a progressive download feature that lets users start watching a film before it has finished downloading.

In a statement, HTC CEO Peter Chou said the HTC Sensation takes the concept of a smartphone as an entertainment device "even further by combining the great new HTC Watch entertainment experience with the latest HTC Sense experience".

Earlier this year, the HTC Desire topped the list of the UK's most popular smartphones, helping to push Apple's iPhone 4 into sixth place.