TEST: HTC One Max - CHIP

In terms of performance

One Max falls almost perfectly, a 5.9-inch screen has a high quality. Unfortunately, the design of the device does not provide adequate ergonomics: One Max is unwieldy and uncomfortable to use. In addition, the fingerprint scanner – new smartphones HTC – fails in everyday life.

HTC One and One Mini coincided with our taste so great technical solutions, interesting design and make a nice, minimalist interface. Designed in a similar manner HTC One Max looks however as if it was applied too tightly tied corset. This costing about 2600 z? phablet does not raise any objections from a technical point of view, but during normal use come to light its drawbacks.

Ranked among the leaders: the display and performance

5.9-inch display HTC One Max is made in LCD technology. The image is very sharp, high contrast and vibrant colors is what can be observed in a wide range of viewing angles. In short, high quality typical of HTC. HTC One Max has not received a new processor – like the other smartphones in the family One Taiwanese applied the system Snapdragon 600 However, this has no negative impact on the performance of the device while performing daily tasks. The same processor and the same resolution as the HTC One must finally guarantee similar performance. Especially when you start appów One Max does not prompt the user to wait.

In addition, the One Max technology supports WLAN and LTE-ac Cat3 (up to 100 Mb / sec), enabling fast communication. It is true that there is already faster LTE (Cat4) with download speed up to 150 Mb / s, but so far it is difficult to find a network that uses its features.

powerful battery, the average acoustics

Battery capacity of 3300 mAh raises a lot of expectations – and, in fact, in terms of working time One Max did not disappoint. It is true that a strong battery charging takes more than three hours, but in our test scenario HTC One Max endured over 12 hours of continuous calling. Time to surf the Web at full screen brightness reaching almost nine hours is also impressive.

Acoustics phone is at a decent level. The voice is much easier to understand if the fixed network – HTC One speaker to listen to the noise in the background. One of the major advantages of One series so far has been high sound quality when playing music. One Max is unfortunately the first HTC smartphone that gives users affected by the termination of cooperation between the Taiwanese manufacturer and Beats Audio. Lack not only the characteristic logo on the back panel, but also the audio profile ensures crisp bass. Original music player is at the same time devoid of any EQ. Headphones and stereo speakers One Max still sound good, but far worse in comparison with other devices in the series One.

Photo laboratory registered in daylight: Ultrapixel camera does not allow for cropping photos without a significant reduction in their quality. The colors and brightness level are correct, less of a focus.

Photo laboratory registered under artificial light: Photography has a very high color temperature, otherwise no different from the picture that was taken in daylight.

Photo laboratory registered in the dark with a flash: The picture is disappointing is out of focus, in addition too dark.

Photo taken outdoors: Also outside the laboratory One Max struggles with poverty focus, noise and screening of some parts of the image. In this photo you can see another problem – discoloration on the borders of the dark and bright areas.

Camera Ultrapixel without stabilizer

One Max is equipped with a camera developed by HTC Ultrapixel. The smartphone can shoot at the same time using the front and rear camera. With a completely incomprehensible reason for us designers opted, however, a very effective image stabilization system, which appeared in the HTC One. In the laboratory apparatus Ultrapixel wrote on average. Photos were never perfectly sharp, but often covered pain noise. Admittedly, the camera starts up quickly, but same pictures rarely look satisfactorily.

Abnormally high resolution …

ergonomics HTC One thing is wrong. Design familiar with the smaller models HTC does not work on your phone of this size – turns out to be a very unwieldy, even for 5.9-inch phablet. None of the editors, which gave a smartphone in hand, considered it convenient to use. To visualize the problem, compare the HTC One Max with Samsung Galaxy Note 3 HTC One Max has a 5.9-inch screen and dimensions of 165 x 83 x 11 mm, while Samsung is equipped with a display diagonal of 5.7 “and measures 151 x 80 x 10 mm. Note 3 weighs 168 g and 219 until the Max One g While the displays themselves almost two devices differ from each other, the difference between whole phones is huge. Okay – Stereo speakers HTC One Max must occupy some space, but separate buttons below the screen and a white frame around it is a completely unnecessary items. Galaxy Note 3 in comparison with defense Max One surprisingly handy.

… and deficiencies in the quality of performance

these reservations come problems with the quality of workmanship – something hitherto unknown in smartphones Series One. The back cover HTC One Max is removable, and beneath it are slots Micro SD card and SIM card and a removable battery. Theoretically, all right. When installing the previously removed flip test sample, however, the problem appeared – the locking slide it into position was not to be the end of the move, even by force. Along the white line the back of the inelegant remaining gap with sharp edges. Besides, plastic frame, as if taken from the model One Mini, has not been properly fits. In one corner slightly protrude over the edge of the housing to be located in another slightly below it. Described imperfection and too large size of the unit make for an uncomfortable feeling that accompanied us when using the HTC One Max. The price for this is the lower note for ergonomics.

problem with fingerprint scanner

biggest drawback fingerprint scanner installed in HTC One Max is that it does not withstand comparison with the scanner iPhone 5S. Taiwanese put him in a non-optimal location, and its reliability is much worse. HTC designers put the switch on the side of the device, because despite the size of the housing is readily available. It is a pity that so it will reach a finger to a scanner, we need to change the way you hold the phone in your hand. The fingerprint is scanned after it, when you activate the screen and you will see the lock board. In addition, it is not enough to put a finger on the scanner – you have to move it from top to bottom. If your finger is not exactly in the right place, authentication fails. It is difficult to conclude that the scanner faster and easier to unlock the screen – it is rather the exact opposite. Worse, by swiping your finger over the scanner, almost always ink stains camera lens.

interesting feature that the iPhone lacks is the possibility of flexible configuration of the scanner. We associate with it the app to use the camera, or any other software installed on the phone, to call it a fingerprint. This solution, however, is not completely thought: scanner only works if, when the display is visible lock screen, and you have selected the fingerprint verification as a method of unlocking. When we are on the main screen, the scanner does not respond. This means that the selected app is called fingerprint only (and whenever) when the screen unlocks. This solution makes the function of connecting the scanner with appami is practically useless.

Android 4.3

As the first device from the series One, One Max received Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 overlay (provided the update to Android 4.4 KitKat). While the system in version 4.3 is not much different from its predecessor, the interface Sense 5.5 has several new features. Blinkfeed (center notifications on HTC) also retrieves information from the Google+ service, supports a larger number of sites in different countries, and displays the latest news in an optimized way. There was also a search function, which allows to find all the entries aggregated Blinkfeed corresponding to the supplied chosen keyword. This search can be written to at any time have access to new items that meet the specified criteria. Besides, we have the ability to configure the drop-down menu on the top bar – to choose from a variety of shortcuts, including a shortcut to the GPS feature. Sorry, can no longer choose a different wallpaper for the lock screen and home screen.

Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 overlay makes a good impression, but you can see that it was not suitable for such large screens. The spacing between icons on the list appów are disproportionately large. Does not have the additional functions using the capabilities One Max, beyond the notebook of drawing function.

Summary – HTC One Max

can see that even the best ideas can not be impunity fit in any corset – especially zasznurowanym too loose. HTC One Max offers Android 4.3, good performance, long life and a great screen, but so what, if housing is in the wrong hands, fingerprint scanner is useless, and the back cover can not be properly set up. To spite of these drawbacks become the owner of the aluminum monster, we put about 2600 z?.

Alternative: Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Although the segment phabletów got busier, Galaxy Note 3 is still hard to beat. Despite the large screen, it is much more convenient to use than the HTC One Max, and at the same factory cooperates with the stylus. In addition, Samsung offers a wide range of special appów, has a brilliant AMOLED screen and has a great performance and long battery life. We should also appreciate the support LTE Cat4, USB 3.0 and 4k camera – and it’s all for a better price. Samsung phablet costs at online stores about 2450 z?.

PROS:

bright and clear screen
High-performance
Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 overlay
impressively durable battery class=”c18″/> LTE, IrDA, WLAN ac

Cons:

inaccurate execution of the rear casing elements class=”c18″/> ill how to use the fingerprint scanner
music player without profile Beats Audio EQ

Price: 2600 z?

The following table presents the technical data and test results.

Warranty [months]	24
class=”xl6527765″> Operating System	Android 4.3 with HTC Sense 5.5 overlay
class=”xl6527765″> Display size [inches]	5.9
class=”xl6527765″> Overall rating [paragraph.]	93.2
class=”xl6527765″> phone and battery [paragraph.]	100
class=”xl6527765″> Internet [paragraph.]	99
class=”xl6527765″> Multimedia [paragraph.]	87
class=”xl6527765″> Ergonomics [paragraph.]	88
class=”xl6527765″> Store applications [paragraph.]	96
class=”xl6527765″ colspan=”2″> Specifications
class=”xl6527765″> Store apps	Google Play
class=”xl6527765″> Radiation SAR [W / kg]	1.29
class=”xl6527765″> Weight [g]	219
class=”xl6527765″> Dimensions L x W x H [mm]	165 x 83 x 11
class=”xl6527765″> Frequency GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)	• / • / • / •
class=”xl6527765″> WLAN	802.11b/g/n/ac
class=”xl6527765″> EDGE	yes
class=”xl6527765″> UMTS download speed [Mbps]	42.2
class=”xl6527765″> UMTS upload speed [Mbps]	5.8
class=”xl6527765″> browser supports FLASH	not
class=”xl6527765″> Video calling	WLAN and UMTS
class=”xl6527765″> type touch screen	Capacitive
class=”xl6527765″> Multitouch	yes
class=”xl6527765″> response to touch screen	very good
class=”xl6527765″> Display Type	LCD
class=”xl6527765″> Screen Resolution [pixels]	1080 x 1920
class=”xl6527765″> Number of screen colors	16777216
class=”xl6527765″> Voice	yes
class=”xl6527765″> Profiles	yes
class=”xl6527765″> push e-mail	yes
class=”xl6527765″> E-mail: Exchange	yes
class=”xl6527765″> memory card slot	Micro SD
class=”xl6527765″> USB Version	2.0
class=”xl6527765″> standard connector (micro USB)	yes
class=”xl6527765″> SIM Type	Micro
class=”xl6527765″> Bluetooth	4.0
class=”xl6527765″> A2DP Bluetooth	yes
class=”xl6527765″> Resolution Digital Camera [MP]	4.1
class=”xl6527765″> minimum distance for macro mode, the camera [cm]	7
class=”xl6527765″> Auto Focus	yes
class=”xl6527765″> Video Resolution [pixels]	1080 x 1920
class=”xl6527765″> Audio file formats	MP3, WMA, AAC
class=”xl6527765″> Headphone	3.5 mm
class=”xl6527765″> video player	yes
class=”xl6527765″> FM Radio	so
class=”xl6527765″> Navigation: GPS receiver	yes
class=”xl6527765″> Navigation Software	preinstalled
class=”xl6527765″> Software for navigation: full version	yes
class=”xl6527765″> Manufacturer navigation software	Google Maps
class=”xl6527765″> Accessories	USB cable, headset, user manual on CD-ROM or memory card
class=”xl6527765″ colspan=”2″> test results
class=”xl6527765″> Battery: Talk time [min]	800
class=”xl6527765″> Battery: surfing time [min]	530
class=”xl6527765″> Battery: charging time [min]	211
class=”xl6527765″> reflections on the screen (contrast) [1]	3.8
class=”xl6527765″> Screen Brightness [cd / m 2 ]	329
class=”xl6527765″> Contrast (checkerboard) [1]	165
class=”xl6527765″> GPS	yes
class=”xl6527765″> GPS Navigation: time-to-fix [s]	8
Speed ??USB (100 MB time to load music from your PC) [s]	16