Apparently there's something big brewing over in Taiwan as news of the super-sized handset going by the moniker HTC One Max continues to grow on the web.

After the success of the HTC One the Taiwanese firm is probably feeling pretty bullish about its chances going forward and it's no surprise that rumours have begun to crop up suggesting it's looking at the phablet device codenamed T6.

• Opinion: Why HTC shouldn't make the T6 phablet

We've sifted through all the HTC One Max talk to bring you a definitive run down of what you might be able to expect from HTC's monster mobile.

HTC One Max release date and price

HTC currently doesn't have any events planned for this year, but that hasn't stopped speculation on a possible HTC One Max release date.

At the moment reports point towards a release towards the end of this year, so the One Max might be one for the Christmas list, and there's now talk around a potential launch event on October 17 - or perhaps even on October 15.

Pricing is equally as unknown for now, but Chinese site ePrice has said it expects the One Max to sport a similar price tag to the Galaxy Note 3 - so you'd better get saving.

HTC One Max display

The main attraction on the HTC One Max will be its display which is apparently shaping up to be a mammoth 5.9-inch, full HD affair.

This would top the 5.7-inch, 1080p display found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but it will still look small when held next to the ridiculously proportioned Sony Xperia Z Ultra and its 6.3-inch screen.

Original reports suggested HTC would only give the One Max a modest screen bump, upping if from 4.7- to 5-inches from the HTC One - although those rumours seem to have been laid to rest now.

HTC One Max operating system

There's been much talk surrounding the operating system the HTC One Max will be running. Early on we saw reports that it may be in line for Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie - but that no longer exists with the introduction of Android 4.4 KitKat.

It looks like the HTC One Max will also miss out Android 4.2, shipping with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the latest version from Google, out of the box

There's an outside chance the One Max could turn up with KitKat, but it seems unlikely as Google is tipped to announce the latest Android update just a few days before HTC makes its rumoured announcement.

HTC One Max processor

As well having a huge display the HTC One Max is expected to pack some serious power under its metal chassis, with reports of a 2.3GHz quad-core processor getting our attention.

Apparently the One Max will use the same Snapdragon 800 chip you'll find in the Galaxy Note 3 and Xperia Z Ultra, plus there will be 2GB of RAM to back it up.

HTC One Max design

Usually with key phone launches a whole platter of images claiming to depict the handset in question are leaked online, although when it comes to the

The first glimpse we got of the HTC One Max was in the form of a blueprint, which from the rear appears to be identical to the handset it's based on.

On the front only minor cosmetic changes show up, with additional width to accommodate the larger display and a shift of the sensors at the top of the device from the left to right.

An image which appeared on Chinese site ePrice claimed to show the HTC One Max lined up next to the One and the One Mini - and on the rear of the One Max there seems to be what looks like a fingerprint scanner.

News on a potential fingerprint scanner - possibly aiming to tackle Touch ID on the iPhone 5S - grew when more images apparently showing the rear of the HTC One Max had spaces for the rumoured digit reader.

This particular model is a supposed dual-SIM variant of the One Max which will likely land in Asian markets.

So we can be pretty such that if the HTC One Max does exist it will simply look like a stretched HTC One, but the fingerprint conundrum just won't go away. Yet another leaked image made its way onto the web, complete with that black square on the back of the device.

We have apparently seen the complete package if the following image is to be believed. Apparently that's the HTC One Max on the left alongside the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 2.

Roubnding off the HTC One Max image leak buffet is this treat from Chinese site Tenaa, and yes once again the much talked about fingerprint scanner also appears to be present here. Is HTC really going for it?

HTC One Max specs

Apparently the One Max will also feature 16GB of internal storage, 2.1MP front camera, UltraPixel rear camera 4G connectivity and a sizable 3300mAh battery.

Leaked screenshots claiming to be taken from the One Max reveal that it could offer HDR video recording and various camera modes such as "beauty mode", blemish correction tools and panorama.

Even though HTC and Beats Audio have parted company after a few years of teaming up, it looks like the One Max will still sport Dr Dre's audio technology - possibly the last HTC smartphone to do so.

Now those are some pretty tasty specs and it will certainly give the competition a run for its money - but we're going to have to wait and see if they are accurate.

Source : techradar[dot]com

Phone of the year is one of the most sought after awards at the T3 Awards each year, and with TechRadar in charge of handing over the trophy, we thought we'd run through which of 2013's handsets are in the running.

Ford SYNC presents the T3 Awards 2013 and the lineup of phones is a veritable who's who in the current hierarchy, with Apple and Samsung's rivalry propped up by the brilliance of HTC, the fascinating world of Nokia and the backdrop of Sony's long-awaited resurgence and BlackBerry's sad decline.

But at its heart, the award is all about the actual handsets. So we asked TechRadar's phone guru Gareth Beavis, mobiles staff writer John McCann, as well as some guest comments from the rest of the team their thoughts on the six shortlist contenders.

Apple iPhone 5

TechRadar iPhone 5 review: 4.5 stars

T3 judge and TechRadar's Editor-in-chief UK Patrick Goss: "It's become almost too easy to criticise Apple's iPhones as innovation slows and debacles like Apple maps add a faint patina of tarnish to the brand's reputation, but this was (and still is) a gorgeous phone. Light, fully featured and just a little bit taller - the arrival of iOS 7 recently has made it even better."

TechRadar staff writer Hugh Langley: "The iPhone 5 is an obvious contender for 2013's best phone. It was a smart evolution for the series and the bigger screen was more than welcome. While it made iOS 6 feel a little dated at first, iOS 7 has turned the iPhone 5 into what feels like a completely new handset that's more intuitive than ever. Most importantly, it's an absolute joy to use."

HTC One

TechRadar HTC One review: Five stars

TechRadar phones editor UK Gareth Beavis: "The HTC One is a phone that defies all expectations through a clever camera, amazing sound quality as well as the best-designed smartphone out there. Add to that industry leading specs and cool content discovery and there's no surprise when you learn the HTC One is already our phone of the year, and competing in the T3 Awards for their accolade."

Patrick Goss: This is a beautiful phone and it's not a coincidence that it sits proudly at the top of our 20 best phones on the planet list. Wonderful construction, sweet, sweet Android and, eventually, an improvement to the early battery life woes proved to the world that it wasn't just Apple and Samsung who could wow us with flagship phones.

Nokia Lumia 925

TechRadar Nokia Lumia 925 review: Four stars

TechRadar UK phones writer John McCann: "Windows Phone is still finding its feet in the mobile market, but Nokia's Lumia 925 is the best smartphone currently on the market running WP8. It's metal chassis gives it a solid, premium look and feel, plus the camera on the back is great for low-light snaps. We're still not sold on the Windows OS yet though - both iOS and Android offer more."

Patrick Goss: "I'm coming to the conclusion that it's time to stop patronising Nokia and Windows Phone for being an okay third option and start beating them with a big stick labelled 'make a wonderful phone already'. I'm just not that big of a fan of the Lumia 925 and I think it doesn't compare that well with some of the big hitters on this list."

BlackBerry Z10

TechRadar BlackBerry Z10 review: 4 stars

John McCann: "The BlackBerry Z10 is the most significant smartphone to come out of the Canadian firm for years - the flagship for the new BB10 operating system the Z10 offers a completely new experience for all users. While it may not be the first phone you think of, the impressive messaging capabilities make this handset a contender."

Hugh Langley: "Did the BlackBerry Z10 deliver the goods as the first BB10 handset? With that 4.2-inch HD display, stylish design and 8MP camera, it would be tough to say no. But as great as it was, it's hard to argue it offered anything special. Which is why it wasn't the phone to save BlackBerry."

Samsung Galaxy S4:

TechRadar Samsung Galaxy S4 review: 4.5 stars

Gareth Beavis: "The Samsung Galaxy S4 takes power to the next level, with a supreme screen, strong camera and solid design. The South Korean firm should be applauded for its bravery too... The reams of innovative new features in board may not all be useful, but at least it's working out what the next big thing will be in smartphones."

TechRadar UK deputy editor Marc Chacksfield: "The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a no-brainer for me. Superior AMOLED screen, sizzling processor, expandable memory, a tie-up with Dropbox and touchless gestures are just a few reasons why it became my phone of choice this year. I do wish Samsung would move away from plastic, though - the chassis is the only thing that lets this superb smartphone down."

Sony Xperia Z1

TechRadar Sony Xperia Z1 review: 4 stars

John McCann: "Supremely powerful and outstandingly specced the Sony Xperia Z1 is, on paper at least, a solid gold winner (It's not gold though, it's black). There are a few niggles with the interface and excessive levels of bloatware, but if you're in the market for a super slim smartphone with 20MP camera and waterproof credentials, look no further."

Gareth Beavis: "The Sony Xperia Z1 is another great step away from the troubled Sony Ericsson venture - and now imbued with all the great tech the Japanese firm has to offer, the Z1 packs an impossible amount of tech into one thin frame. Be it compact camera-level snapping, TV-spec visuals and a simplified UI there's a load of reasons to see this as another moment in Sony's smartphone revolution."

Source : techradar[dot]com

Having reported on LG's rumoured flexible Z phone just hours ago, we've received some new info nuggets that change everything.

Well, not absolutely everything. But according to sources speaking to Cnet, LG's new phone will likely be going with the name "G Flex", meaning the Z moniker may have just been an internal codename.

The phone will feature a 6-inch display and the same sources claim that November will be the month in which LG makes the big curvy reveal, although plans are said to not be finalised just yet.

Remember, remember, flexible November

The flex-factor doesn't mean the phone will actually be bendable though - just that it will arrive in a fixed contorted form.

Cnet says the phone will be "dramatic enough to comfortably fit around your face but not so angular that it looks weird" and has obtained a sketch of the handset showing off that not-overly-dramatic curvature.

It's expected that Samsung will also put out a curved smartphone this month, after the Korean firm confirmed something flexible was heading our way.

• Would you ever buy a curvy TV? Check out our initial impressions of the LG 55EA9800 Curved OLED

Source : techradar[dot]com

Google has already launched a new version of the Nexus 7 so surely it's only a matter of time before its bigger brother, the Nexus 10, gets a reboot too.

Last year's Nexus 10 was made by Samsung, but if the latest information posted by @evleaks is to be believed (and it's usually a reliable source), then Asus appears to have stolen this one from the Korean firm.

The picture posted on the Twitter account seems to be a product listing for the new Nexus 10 tablet, but above confirming a 10-inch screen and Wi-Fi connectivity it offers us precious little information.

Have a KitKat

While no Nexus 10 release date was offered in this post there are rumours suggesting Google is planning an event on October 14 where we could possibly see the Nexus 5 smartphone launched alongside the larger tablet.

We already know that Google's next instalment of Android is dubbed KitKat, and this shiny new software is expected to appear at the same event, so we could be in for a real treat.

• Didn't know about the new Nexus 7? Check out our in-depth review

Source : techradar[dot]com

The executive Vertu brand is never going to appeal to a wide audience, but it's looking to garner some new customers with the launch of its latest smartphone, the Constellation.

We saw the audaciously valued Vertu Ti launch earlier this year with prices starting at £6,700 (around $10,600/AU$10,300) and in comparison the Vertu Constellation is a steal at just £4,000 (around $6,500/AU$7,000).

The majority of Vertu's customers at the moment are male, so it's hoping that the Constellation - with a less garish appearance and a choice of coloured leather included "Raspberry", "Cappuccino" and "Mocha" (or pink, light brown and brown) - will appeal more to the female market.

How does Vertu go around justifying that price then? Well the specs certainly don't live up to the price tag with a rather average 4.3-inch 720p display, 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage and 13MP rear camera.

Justify this

You also get a 1.3MP front snapper, NFC and a non-removable 1800mAh battery placing this Android 4.2.2 toting handset firmly in the middle market.

It's the handmade casing and the added services provided by Vertu where it attempts to justify the price point of its smartphones, with the Constellation clad in grade 5 titanium and wrapped in calf leather, while the Vertu shortkey on the side of the handset is made from a ruby.

Press the ruby on the left side of the Constellation and the phone will launch Vertu's own services application providing you with two options - Life and Certainty.

The former provides users access to some of the most exclusive clubs and events around the world as well as offering a high-class, Groupon style deals area, while Certainty provides various levels of protection from encrypting calls and messages to securing your documents and device.

If you're feeling flush the Vertu Constellation goes on sale this month, but if you want the best phone on the market, or simply value for money, we'd recommend getting pretty much anything else.

Source : techradar[dot]com