HTC One max Review - It's Huge
by Brian Klug on October 28, 2013 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- HTC
- Mobile
- One
- Snapdragon 600
- Android 4.3
- One max
On the camera side we see HTC’s continued use of the 4 MP UltraPixel camera sensor on the back, with 2.0 micron pixels and 1/3" size. It’s the same CMOS sensor from ST (VD6869), and the same optics on top, with 3.8mm focal length and F/2.0 aperture. What’s different is that the One max doesn’t have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), just like the One mini. That’s a bit unfortunate since OIS was one of the real highlights of the One, and we’ve seen another OEM follow suit with the inclusion of OIS to good success (LG’s G2) and will likely see Samsung do the same. On the front facing camera we have an Aptina AS0260 CMOS sensor with 2.1 MP resolution and 1.4µm pixels.
| HTC One Camera Specifications | |||||
| Device | HTC One | HTC One max/mini | |||
| Sensor Size and Type | 1/3" BSI CMOS | 1/3" BSI CMOS | |||
| Resolution | 4.0 MP 16:9 Aspect Ratio (2688 x 1520) | 4.0 MP 16:9 Aspect Ratio (2688 x 1520) | |||
| Focal Length | 3.82mm | 3.82 mm | |||
| F/# | F/2.0 | F/2.0 | |||
| Optical System | 5P | 5P | |||
| OIS | 2-axis +/- 1 degree, 2 kHz sampling | No OIS | |||
My thoughts about the HTC One camera system have definitely evolved over time, though I’m still glad HTC took a big risk and went this way, I’d like to see resolution traded off a bit less in the next generation. Good imaging often takes a balanced approach, I’d love to see larger pixels somewhere around 1.65 µm and as many as possible while still being pragmatic about sensor size. I hate to bring up the iPhone 5s as a comparison point, but something without as far of a tradeoff would be great. I’m still a fan of the HTC One camera indoors where other cameras struggle, but outdoors the resolution tradeoff is definitely there. Losing OIS means losing one of the things about the One system that made it special and standout in my mind. I could understand it being gone in the One mini for cost reasons, but the One max really should’ve had it considering its mission – everything about the One, taken to the max.
There’s a couple new features in the camera as a part of Sense 5.5 as well. Dual capture has been added to the camera as a shooting mode. We’ve seen this from other OEMs – it allows the front facing camera to be superimposed on the rear facing camera, or vice versus.
It’s a great feature for taking a selfie in front of something while traveling, which is ultimately its primary use case, I guess. There’s also an ‘anti shake’ mode which seems to be an EIS enhanced mode, but again this doesn’t preclude getting blurry pictures when the One max takes longer exposures, from what I’ve found.
Gallery: Smartphone Camera Bench
With the exception the performance tradeoff that comes from lacking OIS (higher chance of getting blurry photos from hand shake), imaging performance on the One max is really unchanged versus the One or One mini. I’m not going to go into super great detail here, but again I’d love to see the future One series a bit more resolution without trading off too much sensitivity.
Video
The One max has the same set of video modes as the other One, normal 1080p30, slow motion video, fast HD (720p60) and Video HDR (1080p30). In addition the shot in shot mode also works in video, so you can have yourself superimposed over video of whatever you’re shooting as well.
Video is recorded at a maximum of 1080p30 H.264 high profile with a 21 Mbps bitrate, and stereo audio. 1080p30 is great, but it’d be awesome to see 4K UHD video record which I was spoiled by on the Note 3, that’s another thing that’s a matter of SoC and CMOS needing a bit more.
I took videos on the One max at the standard bench location (MP4) and also compared to the One with OIS to illustrate the tradeoff in stabilized video that comes with its removal. I think it’s fairly easy to make the case that it should’ve been there. I also swear I wiped down the One max front facing glass to prevent glare, but the One max video shows some haze from light leakage. I’d love to see more OEMs move to coated sapphire cover glass on the camera, something I don’t believe HTC has.
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superflex - Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - link
If a 64 GB uSD card makes you happy, you might have problems.PC Perv - Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - link
Biggest logical fallacy is to claim that there is no need for affordable storage options in smartphones when the OEMs are charging $100, $200, $300 extra per those extra storages, and apparently the reviewer doesn't see the irony of it. If no one needs more than 16 GB, how do the OEMs get away with such ridiculous markups?The reviewer is happy as clam as long as she gets a new phone every other week.
chizow - Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - link
Yes, they're going away, slowly but surely, except they're not and in this case a device-maker that didn't include SD slots before added it to their latest flagship phone? How can you claim logical fallacy and not realize the inaccuracy of what you just wrote? Do you think next year's HTC One update will include an SD slot or no?As for the rest, it doesn't matter what the majority of disinterested users want, like any industry, the demand of the top-end drives demand and innovation for the rest. Just as most people may not care for a microSD slot, removable battery, or unibody aluminum chassis, they will ALMOST CERTAINLY take the advice over which phone to pick based upon the input from someone who DOES care about those features, or has the phone and decides on it based on word of mouth or first hand exposure.
bairlangga - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
Dear Anand(Tech),No love for Xperias? Saw every brand are accounted for here, except Sony ;-)
superflex - Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - link
Because Sony want proved a demo sample. Blame your shitty manufacturer for that one, SparkyMercuryStar - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
You have the HTC One Mini listed as a quad core Krait 200. Isn't it actually a dual core, and isn't it actually Krait 300, being that it's MSM8930aa?MercuryStar - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
You're not the first person to claim the One Mini has a plastic speaker grille, but to me seeing it in person it is clearly metal, albeit with one of those clear plastic coatings like aluminum food tins usually have on the inside to protect the food. What's the deal - what makes you claim it's plastic? I agree it doesn't look great like on the One, but it quite clearly is metal albeit with a lower grade finish.AbbyYen - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
For god shake, put snappy dragoony 800 in it already. And please, anything lower then 8MP is budget phone category. ultra pixel is useless. try capture a document and Ye shall know the difference. speaker at the front are welcome thou.fixxxer0 - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
am I the only one laughed out loud at the speakerphone volume graph.... (beats off)Laststop311 - Monday, October 28, 2013 - link
Would of made much more sense to go with the SD 800. SD 400 on mini SD 600 on One and SD 800 on max. The SD 800 actually has better battery life due to LTE integration and it's faster. I can't bring myself to buy an outdated SoC when phones are already outdated so fast. Buying anything less than a SD 800 is a foolish move.I was really pumped about the max. But the SD 600 ruined it for me. I've been let down constantly. Was pumped for the lumia 1520 but of course t-mobile isn't getting it. I was pumped for the note 3 but it was barely an upgrade from the note 2. There is nothing good enough to make me want to add 23 dollars a month to my bill to subsidize a phone when my G note 2 is fully paid off and I get pure unlimited everything for 69.99 with LTE activated in my area. Looks like my note 2 will be my trusty side kick another year. Hope the note 4 brings something great to the table.