Pole: Droid Maxx by Motorola vs. HTC One (Verizon)

[Thegonagle]

It's past time for an upgrade on Verizon. I'm paying full price for a new phone in order to keep unlimited data, so this is a pretty big purchase.

I've narrowed it down between the Motorola Droid Maxx ($650) and the HTC One ($600). I think I've made my decision, but thought I'd run it by my friends at AnandTech Forums in the form of a good old fashioned "pole."

HTC One pros: 1080p LCD; good speakers for casual use as a streaming radio/video player; good camera for low light (and I'm a night owl); built-in universal IR remote; and I'm not going to lie: I just love how it's designed and built--it seems to be the only Android with hardware as classy as Apple's.

Droid Maxx pros: Most of the same software/features as Moto X; active Display; always listening for "OK Google now..." (and I really like Google Now these days); two flicks of the wrist for a fast photo on the go; bigger photos (but is it a better camera, or just a higher resolution sensor for the sake of higher resolution?); big, huge, giant 3500 mAh battery.

HTC One cons: Small battery; only 4 mega pixels on the snapper (I'm not sure how much this matters to me though--IF low light performance really is great); and did I mention I'm a little bit concerned about the small battery?

Droid Maxx cons: 720p AMOLED (but I realize active display wouldn't work without AMOLED); terribly average external speaker--it sounded every bit as bad as everything else in the store except the HTC One; reviewers say the camera is not so good; it's so ugly, mother might love it, but "Maxx" probably isn't her favorite child.

Can anybody confirm that the mobile hotspot on either of these works in infrastructure mode (like an access point, so connected devices can see/talk to each other), not ad hoc mode? If the mobile hotspot doesn't work in infrastructure mode on either straight out of the box, that is a major deal breaker.

 

[bearxor]

I can't comment about the hotspots.

But the only reason I'd pick the MAXX over the One was if I needed the battery life.

 

[Thegonagle]

I wish HTC made an extended battery version of the One. I wouldn't mind a few extra mm of thickness if they could cram 3500 mAh in there. It would be a done deal.

 

[Crono]

I'm pretty sure the stock WiFi hotspot setting on the One operates on infrastructure and not ad hoc.

Just used WiFi Tether for root, and ad hoc mode actually doesn't work, or at least one of the profiles (WEXT) gives me an error for ad hoc mode but "master" works, and so does the stock WiFi tethering option.

 

[Crono]

I wish HTC made an extended battery version of the One. I wouldn't mind a few extra mm of thickness if they could cram 3500 mAh in there. It would be a done deal.

If you don't mind a larger phone with plastic instead of aluminum body, you should check out the One Max. Reportedly 3,300 mAh, though it isn't out yet, and I'm not sure if it's coming to Verizon.

Or you can get a Mophie or i-Blason PowerGlider battery case for the regular One, which should double battery life, but also doubles the thickness of the One.

 

[dguy6789]

I'd definitely pick the Droid Maxx over the One. The Droid Maxx is pretty much a Super Moto X.

 

[kyrax12]

I hate how companies are going the design route more than actual practicality.

Yes, the HTC one has a nice design, but I rather they trimmed off the design aesthetics/quality and put in a large battery.

For non-removable battery phone, the integrated battery inside should be at least 3,000 mAh.

This is also to account for the battery's degradation after a year or so. Which a battery loses 20% of its storage capabilities. So a higher mAh is extremely preferable.

 

[s44]

MDK S4 from Swappa

 

[Crono]

I hate how companies are going the design route more than actual practicality.

Yes, the HTC one has a nice design, but I rather they trimmed off the design aesthetics/quality and put in a large battery.

For non-removable battery phone, the integrated battery inside should be at least 3,000 mAh.

This is also to account for the battery's degradation after a year or so. Which a battery loses 20% of its storage capabilities. So a higher mAh is extremely preferable.

I'd rather they put a better camera, front-facing speakers, a nicer display, and an infrared remote, and make it $50 cheaper and give a $25 Google Play credit for the Droid Maxx, but that's just me. Not every phone needs to be focused on battery, but the Maxx is geared toward that while there are other features that are more prominent other phones. Clearly having the best of all words is the ideal, but I'm fairly certain manufacturers won't or can't give you everything you or I want, at least not for cheap. There are going to be tradeoffs no matter what phone you choose.

I like having options. If someone needs a bigger battery they can go with the Droid Maxx or put a big battery in an S4. If I need 24 hour usage, I would go with the Maxx, but if I can more than make do with half of that, I'd go with the One.

There is no justification for the $650 price tag for the Maxx other than the battery, which is fairly impressive, but there's nothing else that would demand a premium price tag compared to the other top-tier handsets from Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony, or Nokia. I'd much rather have a Lumia 1020 for that price, or wait for One Max, Note 3, or Lumia 1520 on Verizon.

 

[lopri]

What'd be the chance of the Nexus 5 working on Verizon when it comes out? If that happens, you might as well go for the latest and the greatest. I've heard that S800's improved idle-state power managemtn and integrated LTE modem save battery quite a bit. I am pretty certain that the N5 will cost less than $500 for the base SKU.

 

[Thegonagle]

If the HTC One is any indication, I have a feeling that the One Max won't be coming to Verizon for months, if ever, and I can't wait that long. My current phone is old and slow, its battery is starting to wear out, and I accidentally cracked the screen last week.

I use the hotspot a lot, which uses a lot of power. For what its worth, I'm leaning toward the Maxx. Now if Verizon hadn't delayed the HTC One by 4-5 months, I'd already have that (and maybe a Mophie).

 

[Thegonagle]

What'd be the chance of the Nexus 5 working on Verizon when it comes out? If that happens, you might as well go for the latest and the greatest. I've heard that S800's improved idle-state power managemtn and integrated LTE modem save battery quite a bit. I am pretty certain that the N5 will cost less than $500 for the base SKU.

I'd say almost none. As nice as that would be, Verizon still won't activate phones it doesn't sanction, even if technically compatible.

 

[Qbah]

The battery life on my One is wonderful. I am never under 50% when going to sleep, unless I happen to drive around the city in the afternoon using the GPS... But it still easily lasts me until 1AM, when I go to sleep usually. I do not use LTE though, LTE was sucking the battery juice like crazy! HSPA (15-20Mbps) is plenty fast for me.

I don't have experience with Droid phones, since they're US only, but the battery does sound amazing on the Maxx and would be the only thing that could change my mind... If I were buying today, I would still choose the HTC One though, as I have never run out of or even worried about the battery, after I started using the phone more... I had an iPhone 4S before and the One has a significantly longer battery life - I use the phone more and do more things too. The screen is wonderful, the way the phone feels in my hand is amazing and until batteries can last several days with moderate use, what the One offers is fine for today.

 

[SpongeBob]

I voted Maxx. This is based on my experience living with the Razr Maxx HD for a year now. I haven't actually played with a Droid Maxx yet. HTC One is a beautiful design, but when I played around with it I really didn't like Sense and the battery is just not big enough for me.

 

[corkyg]

I have an older Droid Bionic, and it has a super hotspot provided by VZF. As was mentioned above, when active, it does consume power. I usually plug it in for extended sessions with laptop and tablet, and it keeps the battery up to snuff. I see the Maxx to be just as good in that department. Remember, the Hotspot capability comes from VZF. I pay $50/mo for that - listed on my VZF bill as "Data Package w/Hotspot 6GB."

Should have defined VZF - that is the stock symbol for Verizon.

 

[bearxor]

If the HTC One is any indication, I have a feeling that the One Max won't be coming to Verizon for months, if ever, and I can't wait that long. My current phone is old and slow, its battery is starting to wear out, and I accidentally cracked the screen last week.

I use the hotspot a lot, which uses a lot of power. For what its worth, I'm leaning toward the Maxx. Now if Verizon hadn't delayed the HTC One by 4-5 months, I'd already have that (and maybe a Mophie).

I'd say almost none. As nice as that would be, Verizon still won't activate phones it doesn't sanction, even if technically compatible.

I'd agree. Google still feels burned from the Galaxy Nexus, I think.

And if the FCC filing is indeed for the Nexus 5, they're leaving the Verizon LTE band for 700mhz out anyways.

 

[podspi]

I think the HTC One has a nicer design, but the better battery life and Moto X features put the Maxx over the edge, imho. Plus, I really like AMOLED screens

 

[corkyg]

I think the HTC One has a nicer design, but the better battery life and Moto X features put the Maxx over the edge, imho. Plus, I really like AMOLED screens

I guess what you are saying is, the HTC One is cosmetically nicer, but the Droid Maxx is functionally the winner.

 

[openwheel]

The battery life King of all phones is hard to beat.

 

[lothar]

Battery life > Cosmetics.

 

[Thegonagle]

For me, infrastructure mode hotspot > all

I believe the HTC One has it--I've read that most HTCs do, as does my current HTC phone.

I can't find jack for info about the Motorolas, so I'm just going to drag my 17-inch laptop and my ipod to the Verizon store and see for myself.

Thanks for the input so far...

 

[podspi]

I guess what you are saying is, the HTC One is cosmetically nicer, but the Droid Maxx is functionally the winner.

Yep. To each his or her own, but if I were buying a new phone today it would be a Moto.

 

[nickb64]

If I was going to spend $600-650 on a Verizon phone, I'd probably be seriously considering the Moto X Developer Edition, although they're out of stock.

 

[Oyeve]

Poll.

 

[AMDZen]

As an HTC ONE owner I would recommend it. The battery is fine. Just buy a car charger and you're good to go