Upcoming Android Phones 2013: HTC One Max Finally Launched, May Fall Short Of Competition If Not Priced Aggressively

If you have been on the lookout for upcoming Android phones for 2013, then you may have probably read about the HTC One max. Well, good news is that it has been officially launched by the Taiwanese manufacturer today. 

While the HTC One max (with the small 'M')has the same build and design of the original HTC One, it is surprising that the company opted to keep the internals the same as well. It has the same quadcore 1.7Ghz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 4-ultrapixel camera. Sure it has a bigger 5.9" display screen, but most consumers would want a real upgrade instead of getting a bloated HTC One. 

Fortunately, the phablet comes with a detachable back where users can place a microSD card expansion to complement the device's 16GB of internal memory. However, the powerful 3,300mAh battery is still irreplaceable. 

Other features which are lacking in HTC's phablet are optical image stabilization (OIS) and Beats Audio. Earlier, a Beats Audio executive said the technology will still make its way in a number of HTC devices, but we can't see why it won't be in the One max. 

Thankfully, the HTC phablet will get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean out of the box for a more stable and fluid user experience. It also showcases a fingerprint sensor located at the back which allows the user to unlock the device. HTC also claims that users can assign individual fingers to open certain apps. We will see whether this feature will surely be practical in the real world. 

According to the report by GSM Arena, the HTC One max will hit European and Asian stores by the end of the week, while the US will get it by yearend. Pricing will be crucial for this smartphone to compete with other flagship phablets in the industry such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 and Sony'x Xperia Z1. 

Here's a promo video of the HTC phablet: