This month a handful of leaked images appeared online reputedly showcasing an upcoming Huawei-branded smartphone. Initially, the device in the pictures went unidentified, but members of the Android community quickly dubbed it as the D3 — a phablet pretty similar aesthetically to HTC’s failed 5.9-inch device, the One Max.

We now have some more information on the handset in question. Earlier this evening a report was published on a Chinese news website, revealing that the previously snapped smartphone is, in fact, the much-anticipated Ascend Mate 3 — a result of an unannounced merger between Huawei’s Mate and D-series range of products.

Sony today announced its new Xperia T2 Ultra, an affordable smartphone with a massive 6-inch display that’s looking to take on devices like the Samsung Galaxy Mega and the Huawei Ascend Mate. The device will be aimed at emerging markets like China, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

Huawei’s forthcoming sequel to its popular flagship phablet, the Ascend Mate, is expected to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week, on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, in Las Vegas. However, just days before its scheduled announcement, the Ascend Mate 2 has been surreptitiously snapped, and the shots leaked — these images reveal much of the handset’s appearance and specifications.

Just over a week ago, Vodafone confirmed that it would be the only U.K. network to carry Huawei’s 6.1-inch phablet, the Ascend Mate, but gave no indication of its release date. As of yesterday, residents in the United Kingdom are now able to pick up the Mate on Vodafone for free on a £29 per month contract, or for a one time payment of £300 on PAYG.

The Huawei Ascend P2 has already shown its face once ahead of its Mobile World Congress unveiling later this month, and now it’s been pictured out in the wild. The new pictures dismiss any doubts about the previous leaked press shot, which surfaced late last month.