HTC One Max: 10 Features That Matter Most in a Crowded Mobile Market

by Don Reisinger

The most important feature in the HTC One Max is its 5.9-inch screen. The display might be designed for smartphone users, but its high-definition visuals and sheer size make it look more like a tablet in the user’s hands. The HTC One Max’s screen—huge by smartphone standards—sets it apart in the smartphone market.

Despite the One Max’s large screen, HTC actually did a good job of reducing the device’s thickness. A little more than 10mm thick, the smartphone is thin enough to not feel too bulky in a pocket. The real issue with the HTC One Max is that it might stick out of a pocket or purse due to its height. But overall, it doesn’t seem that bulky.

Apple’s Touch ID feature allows users to access their handset with the swipe of a thumb. The HTC One Max comes with a fingerprint sensor of its own that provides the same security. However, recent research has indicated that fingerprint sensors don’t deliver fool-proof security, since the sensors can reportedly be circumvented with special tape and then reprogrammed with the hacker’s fingerprint.

The HTC One Max comes with what the company calls an “UltraPixel Camera.” HTC says the handset is capable of delivering outstanding pictures with its rear lens. That’s due in part to its enhanced sensor and improved flash. But it’s also due to updates to aperture and pixel density. HTC smartphones have come a long way in delivering high-quality photos.

Although HTC has dabbled in Windows Phone, the company’s main operating system of choice is Android. It appears at this point that HTC believes it’s going to live or die by supporting Android. So it’s putting its best foot forward by supporting Android with the One Max. Whether that will be a significant factor in attracting buyers—especially in China and Europe, where HTC is putting much of its focus—remains to be seen.

HTC has bundled the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor into the One Max. At 1.7GHz, the quad-core chip should do a fine job of running applications and handling processes. But it’s somewhat surprising that HTC didn’t opt for the Snapdragon 800. Considering devices like the Galaxy Note 3 and LG G2 come with the Snapdragon 800, the One Max might be viewed as a second-rate option by smartphones buyers who demand the most power.

HTC could have named the One Max anything it wanted. Instead, the company seems to believe that it has a somewhat strong brand identity with the “One” moniker and doesn’t want to give that up with its flagship handset. A couple of years ago, when HTC was performing well in mobile, such a decision would have been a no-brainer. But now, with sales slumping, it should be interesting to see if customers are happy to see HTC slapping its “One” brand on the Max.

The HTC One Max will come with support for 4G LTE. Although that’s not big news, the fact that HTC will be able to sell the handset onto Verizon’s network is extremely important. When it comes 4G LTE service in the U.S., Verizon is far ahead of its competitors. Plus, it has about 100 million customers, providing fertile ground for HTC. Verizon is picky with its handset choices nowadays. Obviously, it sees something in the One Max.

Out of the box, the One Max comes with 32GB of storage. However, HTC is allowing customers to add up to 64GB of additional storage when they bundle an SD card with the handset. You don’t think that matters? Think again: The 64GB iPhone storage limit has caused all kinds of trouble for power users who run hundreds of apps and watch movies on their handsets. That the HTC One Max can store so much more than the iPhone could be a nice selling point.

It’s shocking to see how much battery life HTC was able to squeeze out of its behemoth of a phone. According to the company, the One Max’s battery can last for 25 hours of continuous talk time over 3G and 585 hours on standby. To put that into perspective, the iPhone 5S battery can last just 10 hours when talking over 3G and 250 hours on standby.