HTC, for reasons I can’t understand, just announced a phone in Taiwan called the Desire L. It has a 4.3 inch screen that pushes 800 x 480 pixels, it has a dual core 1 GHz processor from an unknown chip vendor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 5 megapixel camera. The battery weighs in at 1,800 mAh, which should be OK for a device that small.

Where does this fit in HTC’s product portfolio? You tell me. Right now the HTC One X, which is 12 months old, is considered an “old” phone, but it still has great specs and people love the hardware design. The Desire L seems like a step back. It’s as if HTC took the Sensation from 2011 (remember that thing?) and gave it a makeover.

Will the L ever leave Taiwan? Another great question. Right now HTC is on the hunt for market share in Asia, a place where people often buy phones unsubsidized. The L will cater to that market quite well, but without a price tag I can’t really predict sales. For roughly $325 people in that part of the world people can buy a Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Assuming the L is roughly the same price, why exactly would you get it?