Introduction
We recently had some good one-on-one time with both the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but there are still several other prized phablets in the space that needs to get a proper comparison against the intriguing curve designed smartphone. Next up on the list is none other than the HTC One max, a supersized maximum version of HTC’s flagship smartphone. Our hands are naturally itching to see how these two fare against one another, in order to see which of the two can rise above the other in being a practical smartphone that’ll adhere to our never ending quench for perfection.
Design
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again. The subtle curve of the LG G Flex is absolutely unique and uncanny at the same time, especially when we haven’t seen anything like it before. However, when it comes to class and premium, the HTC One max undeniably has more of it with its design – thanks in part to its choice of employing a mostly brushed aluminum casing. Despite having the more luxurious construction, we can’t forget about the nearly indestructible nature of the LG G Flex, which is further made prominent by its ability to retain its figure even after being flattened out. Additionally, the self-healing property of its casing is something that does wonders to mask superficial scratches. Basically, the cool factor goes to the LG G Flex – whereas the HTC One max has the premium element.
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Display
It’s amazing how the G Flex’s 6-inch 720p (245 ppi) P-OLED display is resilient in being able to withstand some minor pressure – making it shatterproof in the event the phone is dropped or flattened. For all of its sturdiness, that’s basically the main drawing factor with its display. Unfortunately, it’s not as sharp or as visible outdoors like the HTC One max’s 5.9-inch 1080p (373 ppi) S-LCD 3 panel. To top it off, there’s this distracting banding/blemished look with the G Flex display when the brightness is set to the 50% or below mark. In contrast, the HTC One max’s display maintains its high level of crispness.
Interface and Functionality
Now the tides have turn, just as we compare and contrast their respective customized Android experiences, we find that it’s the HTC One max’s Sense 5.5 UI getting the nods for having a more modern design language with its interface. Not only is Sense sporting the cleaner look, but in a way, it’s also very alien to what we’re accustomed to seeing with Android. Sure, the LG G Flex’s customized Android UX UI interface might lack the chic look of its counterpart, but it’s without a doubt a features rich one – more so when it throws several functions into the mix. LG’s UX UI is better suited for those who are serious power users.
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The interface of the LG G Flex
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UI of the HTC One max
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One area where the software experience is drastically different is found in the way they handle multi-tasking. Using the One max, we’re given the standard Android operation – whereas the LG G Flex’s multi-tasking aspect is quantified by the inclusion of its QSlide apps, SlideAside feature, and new Dual Window support.
Even though their notification panels work in the same capacity on the surface, we’re again treated to deeper functions with the LG G Flex. Not only do we have access to other connectivity features with both, but the G Flex goes beyond by even having other unexpected things in tow – like having access to its QRemote app.
In the productivity department, they’re preloaded with Polaris Office 5 to keep people busy on the go. Likewise, their respective note-taking apps, QMemo with the G Flex and Scribble with the One max, provide us with nearly the same level of experience – so we don’t find one to be more usual than the other.
Processor and Memory
Who knows what is HTC’s reasoning behind using an older chipset, but as a newly outed smartphone, the One max doesn’t scream cutting edge. Rather, its quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 SoC doesn’t impress us over the newer quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC running inside of the G Flex. Well, it’s not to say that HTC’s phablet is a slouch, seeing that its performance is very responsive, but it just doesn’t exhibit nearly the same amount of snappiness we see out of LG’s unique toy.
Stuffed with a spacious 32GB of storage, both these behemoths have enough capacity to appease almost everyone – though, it’s the One max that benefits from having an always handy microSD slot to supplement its tally.
Performance benchmarks
Internet and Connectivity
Knowing what they bring to the web browsing experience, it doesn’t shock us to find that they’re nearly perfect for the occasion. Armed with 4G LTE connectivity for fast data speeds, with buttery smooth navigational controls, they give us everything we need to have a hassle-free experience. Then again, the sharper visuals put out by the One max’s display is better suited for our eyes.
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Browsing the web on the LG G Flex
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Browser of the HTC One max
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Being high-end devices and all, we’re familiar with the connectivity features in tow with them – like aGPS, Bluetooth 4.0, dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC, and IR blasters. However, it’s worth mentioning that we gain video-out functionality with the aid of an adapter with the One max. Oh yeah, we also can’t neglect to explain that it’s boasting a finger print scanner as well.
Camera
Okay, so it’s really cool and neat that the two provide shutterbugs with an eclectic set of shooting modes and manual controls. Yet again, we see more depth with the LG G Flex, since it packs other useful features, like its ability to rely on facial recognition to take proper selfies with the rear camera. And when it comes to recording video, we like how the G Flex’s track and zoom feature enables us to simultaneously zoom into a certain area.
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Camera UI of the LG G Flex
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Camera interface of the HTC One max
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Sporting the higher count camera doesn’t necessarily guarantee a superior performance, but in this case, it’s hard to deny that the LG G Flex’s 13-megpiaxel snapper is simply able to compose images that have much more detail than those from the 4-megapixel “UltraPixel” camera of the HTC One max. That’s essentially the differentiator here folks! Yes, while the HTC One max is outclassed in the details department in outdoor situations, we notice that it’s able to pull off slightly better results under low lighting – just a smidgen though, and only if you look at them in small size.
Sample Images
1. LG G Flex
2. HTC One max
3. LG G Flex
4. HTC One max
5. LG G Flex
6. HTC One max
7. LG G Flex
8. HTC One max
9. LG G Flex
10. HTC One max
11. LG G Flex
12. HTC One max
13. LG G Flex
14. HTC One max
15. LG G Flex
16. HTC One max
17. LG G Flex
18. HTC One max
19. LG G Flex
20. HTC One max
21. LG G Flex
22. HTC One max
23. LG G Flex
24. HTC One max
25. LG G Flex
26. HTC One max
27. LG G Flex
28. HTC One max
29. LG G Flex
30. HTC One max
31. LG G Flex
32. HTC One max
33. LG G Flex
34. HTC One max
35. LG G Flex
36. HTC One max
37. LG G Flex
38. HTC One max
39. LG G Flex
40. HTC One max
41. LG G Flex
42. HTC One max
43. LG G Flex
44. HTC One max
45. LG G Flex - Strong light
46. HTC One max - Strong light
47. LG G Flex - Medium light
48. HTC One max - Medium light
49. LG G Flex - Low light
50. HTC One max - Low light
51. LG G Flex - 3ft flash
52. HTC One max - 3ft flash
53. LG G Flex - 5ft flash
54. HTC One max - 5ft flash
55. LG G Flex - 7ft flash
56. HTC One max - 7ft flash
Alternatively, when it comes to recording 1080p video, we like the results out of the two, as they produce some pleasant looking videos with some good attributes. What’s most profound here is that the G Flex can shoot video at a rate of 60 FPS, giving it a very smooth look during playback. Beyond that, the overall quality of the two rivals one another.
Sample Videos
1. LG G Flex Sample Video
2. HTC One max Sample Video
Multimedia
Moving over to their music players, it’s evident that they nearly match one another with their presentations. However, they do boast their own unique elements – like the G Flex’s ability to populate relevant YouTube content, and the One max’s entrancing visualizer. Thanks partly to its two front-firing speakers with HTC BoomSound, the One max has the more commanding presence. Still, the G Flex’s quality is amplified to nearly the same level as we lay it flat on its back, seeing that the audio is able to bounce and reverberate off the surface.
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LG G Flex music player
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Music player of the HTC One max
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More than equipped to play all sorts of high-definition videos, either device suffices for the occasion – more so when their playbacks are smooth and that there’s a nice iridescent glow with their displays. However, the LG G Flex is accompanied with a better multi-tasking aspect, since we’re allow to layer them on top of whatever else we’re doing.
Call Quality
Excellent! That’s what best sums up the call quality experience from these two, mainly due to the fact that their earpieces emit strong volume tones that make voices easily audible to the ear – plus, it helps that when distortion is kept at a minimum.
Battery
Even though the G Flex is stuffed with a higher 3500 mAh battery, it’s unable to beat out the One max with 3300 mAh. When it comes to real-world performance, they’re able to give power users a battery life that’s “all day.”
Battery life
Conclusion
By now, it’s absolutely evident that every phone maker is on board with the phablet craze. And why shouldn’t they be, especially when they’ve proven themselves to be at the very least, amped up versions of their flagship variants. Not only are they their super-sized counterparts, but as we’ve seen consistently, they pack just a little bit more in the experience to give them a higher productivity value.
HTC has done some minor tweaking with its phablet, but as a whole, it’s still every bit of the HTC One we’ve seen in the past – bigger in size of course. In comparison, the LG G Flex is a very different phone, one that manages to move beyond what LG has done already with the G2. Rather than minutely building upon the successes with the G2, LG is daring enough to do something drastically different – to make it more innovative than anything else.
Still, many people will have to think dearly about these two, especially when factoring price. As it currently stands, importing the LG G Flex is a costly investment – one that requires an exorbitant $940 payoff to own. Certainly it’s a premium figure that’s justified by its unique technological jumps, but we can argue that the HTC One max has a more suitable price point that’s befitting of today’s high-end stuff. Sporting an off-contract price of $600, the HTC One max is still an option that you might want to think about.
If you absolutely want something that’ll impress your friends, the LG G Flex is undeniably the phone that’ll get the job done with its unconventional shape and spiffy technological attributes.
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