Life + Technology: Testing the HTC One Max for Verizon Wireless
I've partnered with Verizon Wireless of the Philadelphia Tri-State Region to see how certain devices operating on Verizon's 4G LTE network enhance my day-to-day life, both as a food blogger and as a new mom.
Verizon Wireless provided me with an HTC One Max to test at no cost to me. I did not accept monetary compensation for this post; however, this post does contain affiliate product links. Clicking on the links may result in my being paid a commission based on product sales. Regardless of commission, all opinions expressed in this post are my own. For more information, please review our site policies.
In continuation with my partnership with Verizon Wireless of the Philadelphia Tri-State Region, I've spent some time testing another mobile device that operates on their 4G LTE network (known as the "fastest and most reliable in the U.S.") to determine how the right device could enhance my day-to-day life. Most of my previous reviews focused on the ways I used mobile technology in conjunction with my blogging endeavors, but I've recently started considering how these devices help me navigate the unpredictable world of parenthood.
For the most part, Caroline is continuing to develop by leaps and bounds. It seems as if she's learning a new skill every day, and she loves showing us all of the new things that she can do. Crawling is still her preferred method of getting from Point A to Point B, but cruising comes in as a close second. It's only a matter of time until she becomes more comfortable on her feet and starts walking.
Naturally, her being mobile makes it much harder to take photos with my Nikon because the moment I want to capture has usually passed by the time I retrieve the camera from its spot on the bookcase. Having a reliable mobile device within easy reach is ideal in situations like these. Unfortunately, the HTC One Max fell short of my expectations.
After testing the LG G4, it took some time for me to get adjusted to using the One Max because the latter was bigger and felt bulkier in my hand. I'd still classify it as being on the thin side (it measures 0.41" thick), but it was the phone's length and weight that threw me off.
At nearly 6.5 inches in length, I found it difficult to use the phone comfortably with one hand, something that's a must when holding a wriggly baby. And while my hands are smaller than average, even Stephen thought the phone was too long. Too long and too heavy. Weighing in at 7.65 ounces (almost half a pound!), carrying the One Max quickly became a burden and putting it in my purse to free up my hands usually meant spending five minutes digging around for it because it had inevitably found its way to the very bottom of my bag.
With that said, though, the length of the phone allowed for a "supersized 5.9-inch screen" with Full HD 1080p. Images on the screen appeared sharp and crisp and watching videos was a joy.
Unfortunately, I had a lot of difficulties using the camera on the One Max to produce high-quality photos and videos. Especially when indoors or when the lighting was low. Although I was able to capture many memorable moments, a good number of my photos came out grainy and fuzzy.
It's quite possible that I was simply using the camera function incorrectly, that I didn't choose the proper settings. But I've been doing this for long enough to know that even the basic settings on the camera should produce note-worthy photos. When I'm snapping pics of food, that's one thing... But when I'm trying to take a picture of an energetic baby, I honestly don't have time to play around with settings.
At any rate, here are some of my favorite photos... (thank goodness for Instagram filters):
How do YOU use your mobile device to enhance your day-to-day?
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