HTC One Max 6-Inch Android Smartphone Review

Although users want more features and power, they also want it in a sleek, thin package. Although the One Max’s 5.9-inch display gives it a large footprint, the phone still retains a sleek look. The phone measures about 6.48 x 3.25 x 0.41 inches and weighs about 7.65 ounces. If you put the One Max next to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, you’ll notice the One Max is about a half inch longer and slightly wider and thicker. The big difference between these phones is more likely to be felt when you pick them up, however. The Galaxy Note 3 weighs 1.72 ounces less than the One Max. In a world where phones often attempt to differentiate themselves in terms of weight, this is a noticeable difference.

In terms of styling, the One Max has a similar look and feel as the HTC One, complete with a curved silver back plate with white accents. You’ll find two stereo speakers located above and below the One Max’s display. These speakers feature built-in amplifiers and HTC BoomSound. When you listen to audio on the One Max, you’ll definitely appreciate the extra focus HTC put on the phone’s speakers—they sound great.

The One Max’s screen supports a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). Overall, the screen is vibrant and colorful. Viewing the screen outdoors under direct sunlight was difficult at times, but we can’t say it was any worse than with other phones.

Below the display, you’ll find the Back and Home buttons on either side of the Verizon Wireless logo. The phone’s microUSB port is located on the bottom edge of the phone below the Home button. The phone’s front-facing 2.1 megapixel camera is located to the right of the top speaker.

On the right side you’ll find the Power button and volume rocker. An IR sensor and headset jack are located on the top edge of the phone. A back cover lock is located on the left edge of the phone.

When you turn the One Max over, you’ll immediately see the rear-facing HTC UltraPixel camera with Smart Flash and a fingerprint reader. During our tests, the fingerprint reader worked very well when our finger was placed directly over the sensor. Although we felt the fingerprint reader added some security to the phone, it also added some hassle since we often had to turn the phone over in order to get our finger properly placed on the reader. This hassle could be eliminated if HTC would have placed the fingerprint reader on the front of the device or added a textured surface around the reader to make it easier to feel where the sensor is located.

After removing the One Max’s back cover, you’ll see the phone’s microSD card slot and SIM slot. We were impressed by the rigidity of the back cover—it doesn’t flex at all. Considering most phones today have cheap flexible back covers, this is definitely a premium addition for HTC.