HTC has just announced a new handset, the Sensation XE model, that’s among the first to come with Beats audio technology. This smartphone improves the original Sensation in a couple of aspects, including the audio processing hardware and software, plus the CPU.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread is still the OS of choice, but now it gets the aid of a 1.5GHz CPU to run. A larger battery is also in the mix, plus 768 MB RAM, an aspect criticized when Sensation came out, as well as that tiny 1 GB of internal memory. However, you’ll get either an 8 GB or 16 GB bundled with the handset. Also bundled there’s the special set of Beats by Dr. Dre in-ear headphones.

Once you use the headphones, you’ll switch to the custom Beats by Dr. Dre sound profile, specifically arranged by HTC for this model. There are also design tweaks available, such the red highlights of the touch sensitive buttons, call answer buttons and the handset itself. The launch of the HTC Sensation XE will take place this month in Europe and Asia, with a pricing having yet to be announced.

Worry not, as the rest of the specs is exactly the same: 8MP camera with 1080p video recording, VGA front camera and 4.3 inch qHD display.