Released several years apart, the HTC 10 evo and the HTC One Max represent different approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The One Max, with its larger battery, prioritized longevity, while the 10 evo aimed for a balance of performance and features with a more modern chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a slightly better display experience, the HTC One Max emerges as the winner. Its 81-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses the 10 evo’s 58 hours. However, the 10 evo’s Snapdragon 810 offers a performance edge for demanding tasks, making it suitable for power users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 3, 7, 8, 20 - EMEA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 4, 13 - Verison |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, November. Released 2016, November | 2013, October. Released 2013, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 153.6 x 77.3 x 8.1 mm (6.05 x 3.04 x 0.32 in) | 164.5 x 82.5 x 10.3 mm (6.48 x 3.25 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) | 217 g (7.65 oz) |
| | IP57 dust/water resistant (up to 1m. and 30 mins) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~373 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.9 inches, 96.0 cm2 (~70.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super LCD3 | Super LCD3 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon 600 |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 320 |
| OS | Android 7.0 (Nougat) | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0 (Lollipop), Sense UI 5.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, PDAF, OIS | 4 MP, 1/3.0", 2µm, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps (24-bit/192kHz audio), 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4 | 2.1 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| |
24-bit/192kHz audio | BoomSound dual front stereo speakers
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.0, A2DP, aptX |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out) |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 480 h (3G) | Up to 585 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 23 h (3G) | Up to 25 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black | Silver, Black, Gold |
| Models | 10 evo, M10f, 2PYB2 | One max, HTC6600LVW |
| Price | About 230 EUR | About 370 EUR |
| SAR | 0.60 W/kg (head) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.21 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.51 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.8dB / Crosstalk -94.1dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 58h |
Endurance rating 81h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1357:1 (nominal), 2.407 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1572:1 (nominal) / 2.537:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 80dB |
Voice 68dB / Noise 67dB / Ring 78dB
|
| Performance |
GFXBench: 6.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Basemark X: 5353 |
HTC 10 evo
- More powerful Snapdragon 810 processor
- Faster 18W Quick Charge 2.0 charging
- Potentially better image processing (speculative)
- Significantly shorter battery life (58h endurance)
- Prone to thermal throttling under heavy load
- Lower nominal display contrast ratio
HTC One Max
- Exceptional battery life (81h endurance)
- Slightly higher display contrast ratio
- More efficient Snapdragon 600 processor
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Slower charging speeds (implied)
- Older chipset architecture
Display Comparison
Both the HTC 10 evo and One Max feature displays with excellent contrast ratios for their time, with the One Max edging out the 10 evo at 1572:1 (nominal) versus 1357:1. However, the real-world difference is likely subtle. Both achieve a sunlight contrast ratio of around 2.5, indicating good visibility outdoors. The 10 evo lacks specific details on panel technology, but given its release date, it likely utilizes an IPS LCD. The One Max’s display, while excellent for its era, doesn’t benefit from advancements like LTPO or high refresh rates found in later smartphones.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking in the provided data. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is difficult. Given the era, it’s reasonable to assume both phones delivered acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions. The 10 evo, being a later model, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms, but this is speculative. The absence of information prevents a meaningful assessment of low-light performance or video recording capabilities.
Performance
The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The HTC 10 evo’s Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810, an octa-core processor built on a 20nm process, significantly outperforms the HTC One Max’s Snapdragon 600 (APQ8064), a quad-core Krait 300. The 810’s architecture, with its Cortex-A53 and A57 cores, allows for more complex multitasking and demanding applications. While the Snapdragon 600 was competent for its time, it struggles with modern workloads. The 10 evo’s chipset, however, was known for thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential drawback for extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the HTC One Max truly shines. Its endurance rating of 81 hours is a significant advantage over the HTC 10 evo’s 58 hours. This difference is likely due to the One Max’s larger battery capacity (not specified in the data, but implied by the endurance rating) and the more efficient Snapdragon 600 chipset. The 10 evo compensates with 18W wired charging and Quick Charge 2.0 support, allowing for faster top-ups, but it can’t match the One Max’s overall longevity. The Snapdragon 600’s lower power consumption directly translates to longer usage times between charges.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC 10 evo if you need a phone capable of handling more intensive applications and occasional gaming, and are willing to compromise on battery life. Its Snapdragon 810 provides a noticeable performance boost. Buy the HTC One Max if you prioritize all-day (and then some) battery life and a slightly superior display contrast ratio, even if it means sacrificing some processing power. It’s the ideal choice for users who primarily browse, communicate, and consume media.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 810 in the HTC 10 evo known to overheat during prolonged gaming?
Yes, the Snapdragon 810 was notorious for thermal throttling. While it offers raw performance advantages, extended gaming sessions or demanding tasks can lead to reduced clock speeds and performance drops as the chip heats up. This is a known limitation of the 810’s architecture and 20nm manufacturing process.
❓ How does the battery life of the HTC One Max compare to modern smartphones?
While 81 hours is impressive for its time, modern smartphones with optimized software and larger batteries often exceed this endurance. However, the One Max still holds up remarkably well for basic usage, offering significantly longer battery life than many current-generation flagships under similar workloads.
❓ Does the HTC 10 evo support software updates, considering its age?
Software update support for the HTC 10 evo is likely discontinued. HTC has historically not provided long-term software support for its devices, and given the phone’s age, it’s unlikely to receive any further updates. This means users may miss out on security patches and new features.
