The HTC M8, expected to be the follow-up to 2013's flagship One, will likely be the first big Android handset of the new year. That's resulted in the device being the subject of quite a few leaks and rumors in the past month or two as people scramble to try and figure out what kinds of specs will power HTC's next big handset. Today one more possible detail has trickled out, and this one ought to please folks that weren't huge fans of HTC's decision to slap a non-functional logo between the One's Home and Back buttons.

Prolific leakster @evleaks today claimed that the HTC M8 will sport on-screen navigation buttons, making it the first Android phone from Peter Chou and Co. to include that feature. Recent rumors have suggested that the M8's display could be a 5-inch 1080p panel.

While Google seems to prefer on-screen navigation keys on Android hardware, as evidenced by the Nexus line and its virtual buttons, not every other Android manufacturer feels the same way. One feature shared between most of Samsung's Android phones is a rounded physical Home button along with a pair of capacitive Back and Menu keys, and we've also seen companies like ZTE and HTC opt for fixed capacitive or physical buttons. While a switch to on-screen keys would take up some of the M8's 5-inch display, it would also mean that HTC wouldn't have to worry about including physical keys on the phone's body, which could lead to a slightly smaller device.

When it comes to the navigation buttons on your smartphone, do you like physical keys or do you prefer the on-screen variety?

Via @evleaks