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HTC One max
HTC One max
HTC One max
HTC One max
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7.3/10
Informr score
The HTC One max currently has an Informr score of 7.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 36 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

With the buzz building about the latest generation of phablets, HTC has decided to join the fray. At 5.9-inches, the display on this phone is one of the largest currently available. Not only is it large, Sharif Sakr of Engadget says HTC's Super LCD 3 panel is “still the best in its class, and the best on the whole market if, like us, you prefer the natural colors of an LCD display to the over-saturated appearance of an AMOLED panel.” Vlad Savov of The Verge goes on to say that the screen is a “pleasure to behold.”

However, if you’re looking for one of these behemoth devices, screen size is far from the only consideration. Fortunately, the phone offers performance, storage and utility in abundance as well. Sophie Charara of Stuff says “a rebooted version of our favourite Android skin, bags of storage available via microSD and an all-day battery life and it looks like the Galaxy Note 3 could be in trouble.” It appears that many of the common complaints of the HTC One are being addressed in this new member of the One family.

One of the leading concerns with many of these new large-screen devices is battery life. With a 3,300-mAh battery, Engadget says that the battery life is “something to celebrate” while Stuff describes it as “beastly.” Their tests show the battery depletes 2-4% slower than the competing Note 3. Engadget’s tests showed that even under heavy use, the device lasted all day with plenty of battery to spare. Under light use, a full charge yielded 40 hours of use before hitting the 10-percent remaining mark. For those needing maximum battery life, an optional 1,200-mAh battery cover is available as well.

However, there are few potential issues to note on the phone. First is a lack of real multitasking features. Sony, LG and Samsung have offered a variety of ways to maximize their large screen offers when it comes to multitasking. While the recent apps display on the has been refreshed, there is little new to see on the larger screen. Engadget says “the most obvious change is that the home screen now offers an extra line of icons both vertically and horizontally, but that's as far as it goes in terms of making use of the larger display -- there's no particular feature that enhances single-hand usage, nor is there a multi-window mode to allow true multitasking.”

There is also the fingerprint scanner. Stuff and The Verge had lackluster opinions of the new feature. Vlad Savov of The Verge says “As it is, the fingerprint scanner implementation here is clumsy, awkward, and comfortably in line with the long history of failed attempts at making this technology work.” While Engadget reported slightly more success, they still questioned how many users would leave the feature enabled on their devices.

The final consideration is the sheer heft of the device. At 0.41-inches thick and weighing nearly 227 grams (8 ounces), all of the review sites have noted that the phone is a bit more cumbersome than competing devices. What you gain in battery life and screen quality, you lose in one-handed functionality and comfort. This added weight, at the removal of optical image stabilization, also lead to less than stellar reviews of the 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera on the device.

Engadget provides a summary of the device by saying “the One Max should still attract a few buyers. It will especially appeal to someone, such as a frequent flyer, who wants a big screen and big battery specifically for the purpose of consuming video and music, at the expense of other requirements.”

The Good: Class-leading screen quality, excellent battery life, powerful speakers and microSD card support.

The Bad: Heavy, thick, weak camera and tricky fingerprint scanner.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.7 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.7 GHz
5.9"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.9"
4+ MP
Camera
Camera
4+ MP
3300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


What Hi-Fi
What Hi-Fi

Overall, the HTC One Max doesn’t quite sweep us off our feet in the same way its smaller sibling did.It offers good performance in most areas, but it fails to challenge the best, and that drop in build quality is a disappointment.While it’s a solid effort across the board, we think there...

- Kob Monney, What Hi-Fi
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

We like the design, the screen and the battery life, but the phone's performance is only middling considering its premium price, and the camera is substandard.

- Chris Finnamore, Expert Reviews
Geek Squad
Geek Squad

Overall, the HTC One Max is a nicely made handset with a great version of Android. The fingerprint scanner aside, the hardware is well made and easy to use. The large screen and the BoomSound speakers make it brilliant for music, videos and games.However, my main problem with the One Max is that it...

- Agent Hall, Geek Squad
Phones Review
Phones Review

I am not sure about the HTC One Max and whether it’s a handset I would actually want to purchase, as I can see the appeal of having such a large display and doing away with the need of carrying around a smartphone and a tablet.The size and weight of the device could become tiresome with prolon...

- Gary, Phones Review
NDTV
NDTV

HTC's strategy has been to take a winning formula and adapt it to multiple device sizes and price points. For better or worse, the intended top-of-the-line One Max doesn't seem that much more of an improvement over the One. Ultimately, if given a choice between the One Max and the One, we'd go with...

- Jamshed Avari, NDTV


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the HTC One max user manual here.


HTC backs up the One max with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your One max has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact HTC support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find HTC's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.9"

The HTC One max's screen size is 5.9 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.7 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Quad core 1.7 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with HTC Sense (Update Available: 4.4.2 KitKat) operating system (OS).

Camera
4+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 4+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 3300 mAh battery. HTC's performance ratings are 1500 minutes, 680 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

One max Specs

Overview
Release Date November 21, 2013
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with HTC Sense (Update Available: 4.4.2 KitKat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Quad core 1.7 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 1.25 W/kg
Body: 0.315 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Headset, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO Rev. A, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
4+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Panorama, Scene mode, Dual capture, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Self-portrait
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology S-LCD
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 373 pixels
Size 5.9 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 3300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 791 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 680 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 497 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1500 minutes
Standby Time Up to 24.4 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 16.4 x 8.2 x 1 cm (6.5 x 3.2 x 0.4 in)
Weight 217 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
TV Out Info: HDMI
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AMR, MIDI, MP3, M4A, OGG, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): HTC T6

Fingerprint sensor built on the back

Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
HTC One max Reviews
Where to buy HTC One max
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