Images of Samsung's latest flagship phone "Galaxy S9" have been unveiled by an app released by the firm itself.
The company during its Sunday's launch of the handset in Barcelona, requested invitees to download "unpacked 2018", a program which leaked the hidden photos via a hack.
The revelation corroborates details divulged by earlier unverified leaks about the Galaxy S9.
Experts say the disclosure threaten to detract from the official unveiling.
The photos of a computer-generated model of the phone were apparently created to provide an augmented reality experience at Samsung's Mobile World Congress press event, according to the news site XDA Developers.
XDA was first to publish the photos and said they were sourced from an anonymous Reddit user, who had decompiled the Android version of the app's software and then used the findings to fool Samsung into sharing the imagery.
"The 3D models that we obtained were lifted directly from Samsung's server where they are hosted, there's no doubt they are real," Mishaal Rahman, XDA's editor-in-chief said.
"I think this is the cherry on top of things... anything that is published ahead of Samsung's event is an embarrassment to them as I'm sure they wanted to keep this a secret."
The leak confirms the device has striking resemblance with its predecessor the Galaxy S8 with minor distinction, including the fingerprint sensor being moved underneath the rear camera.
A spokesman for Samsung said it did not comment on speculation.
Venture Beat reporter Evan Blass, had already tweeted several matching renders of the handset since late-January.
According to Ben Wood from the CCS Insight consultancy, "this matters. It's very hard to get people excited about a product that leaks.
"The leaks seem to have been particularly acute on this occasion and may cost the firm a 'wow' moment at its event."
