HTC One Max specs, features, and availability

The original One Max

It hasn’t exactly been the best kept secret, but the leaks are now a thing of the past: the HTC One Max is official.

The One Max continues the design language developed for the 4.7-inch flagship One, bringing to the table a few extra features and a refreshed version of Sense.

The 5.9-incher borrows from the One Mini the strip of white plastic going around its sides, and, breaking away with tradition, has the power button on the right side, right above the volume rocker. Another change in design is the removable back cover, which reveals the microSD card and microSIM slots. The battery, however, is built into the device.

The marquee feature of the HTC One Max is the fingerprint scanner located on the phone’s rear, which lets users lock and unlock the device, as well as launch up to three apps, by assigning each app to a finger. Users will have to swipe vertically over the sensor to use it, which could be problematic considering how large the phone is. The One Max weighs a hefty 217 grams, clearly outsizing its main competitor, the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3, which is 15mm shorter and 2 millimeter thinner. In fact, the Max is closer in size to the Galaxy Mega 6.3.

The One Max comes with a 5.9-inch Full HD Super LCD 3 display, a Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.7GHz (just like on the HTC One), 2GB of RAM, a large 3300 mAh battery, and a UltraPixel camera (4MP). The phone will come in 16GB or 32GB variants, expandable with up to 64GB. The phone features BoomSound dual stereo speakers, but there’s no Beats Audio integration (possibly due to HTC selling its remaining share in Beats). The large speakers should, in theory, ensure the best audio experience on any Android device.

HTC One Max specifications

In the software department, the HTC One Max runs, as expected, Android 4.3 with HTC’s Sense 5.5 overlay on top. The biggest change is the refreshed BlinkFeed homescreen replacement, which now has a switch off option, and comes with Google Plus and Instagram support, as well as RSS integration. Other additions include a GIF animation maker in the Gallery, and some new modes for Zoe. All the features present on the HTC One and One Mini are present on the Max.

The HTC One Max will become available this week in the UK carried by Vodafone, with more markets in Europe to follow soon. In the United States, Verizon and Sprint will carry the One Max by the end of the year. The phone will launch in China on Thursday. We expect to see it go for $200-$250 on contract or around $750 unlocked, similarly to other devices in its class. We’ll update this post when we receive more detailed information on the HTC One’s price and availability.

For more details on the One Max, check out the official press release.

[press]

THE HTC ONE GETS SUPERSIZED WITH THE HTC ONE MAX

World’s best smartphone now in 5.9″ with new and improved HTC Sense 5.5 ® experience

London, October 15, 2013 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced the HTC One max, a super-sized smartphone that brings the award-winning design, functionality and performance of the HTC One to fans of larger handsets. A new Fingerprint Scan feature takes convenience to a new level while acclaimed features including HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, combined with the new HTC Sense 5.5, which are all enhanced to continue to deliver the best overall smartphone experience, now on a larger screen.

“The addition of the HTC One max means that we now have an HTC One phone for everyone. The family has been built on quality and game-changing innovations and the HTC One max is certainly no exception,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The upgrade to HTC Sense 5.5 will provide our most amazing mobile experience yet, with the HTC One max delivering the size and power required to do everything you want, and more, without compromise.”

Big and powerful

The HTC One max’s 5.9″ full HD1080p display is perfect for enjoying photos, videos and movies on the go. Smooth and efficient performance comes courtesy of a quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor featuring a quad-core 1.7 GHz CPU enabling jaw-dropping performance, ultra vivid videos and booming sound. Whether you’re watching videos in stunning HD, playing games or checking out what’s hot online, the HTC One max sounds amazing, looks sharp and keeps working when you need it.

The 16GB or 32GB onboard memory can be expanded thanks to a microSD™ card slot, with a massive 50GB of additional free Google Drive online storage being offered exclusively to HTC One max owners

The large 3300mAh embedded battery means that this level of performance will last and last. Even the most intensive users will find the HTC One max is up to the challenge thanks to the optional HTC Power Flip Case, a stylish 1150mAh battery expansion for your HTC One max which offers both protection and extra juice when you need it most.

Maximum convenience at your fingertips

The average person checks their phone multiple times a day, so the HTC One max welcomes a new era of convenience and advanced functionality thanks to a built-in Fingerprint Scan feature. Located on the back of the device, the fingerprint scanner allows users to lock or unlock the screen and quickly launch up to three favourite applications by assigning an individual finger to each.

More content than ever before

The HTC One max’s Sense 5.5 upgrade comes with a more social, personalised HTC BlinkFeed that can be further refined by customisable topic categories and new integration with premium content providers including Instagram and Google+. Up to 120 articles can also be downloaded for offline viewing, making BlinkFeed even better for snacking on information wherever and whenever you are.

Ultimate imaging

Featuring HTC’s UltraPixel camera technology, HTC Zoe mode, that brings your photos to life, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera, the HTC One max will capture stunning photos and full HD 1080p videos whether you’re the photographer, the subject or both. Dual Capture means you can now snap memorable moments and your reaction to them in one extraordinary photo or video by simultaneously shooting with the front and rear cameras.

Improved imaging is also introduced through Video Highlights, which combines your photos and videos to create a mini movie complete with the soundtrack and visual theme of your choice. And with the HTC One max, your Video Highlights can now be any length you want.

Design at its Best

Available in Glacial Silver, the HTC One max shares the same premium design credentials as the rest of the HTC One family, providing an all round exceptional experience.

Global Availability

The HTC One max will begin rolling out across the globe from mid – end October. See specific regions for details.

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