HTC launches fingerprint reading One Max phablet

New Delhi: Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC has launched its latest flagship One Max phablet sporting a biometric fingerprint reader.Based on the company's existing flagship handset, the HTC One, considered to be one of the best Android handset available in the market, its big brother comes with a 5.9 inch screen with a 1080 pixel display. It also sports a biometric fingerprint reader, which unlike the iPhone 5S, is located on the HTC One Max's rear panel, under the camera.The device will start shipping globally as early as the middle of the month, and is expected to be available this holiday season at both Sprint and Verizon. HTC's oversized smartphone resembles the slim profile and curved metal back design of the HTC One. Besides authenticating a user, the fingerprint scanner on the Max can recognize three different fingers from the same hand and automatically launches a pre-determined app when it scans said finger, whether the phone is locked or open.On the inside, the phablet comes with a Snapdragon 600 processor, HTC's own ultrapixel camera technology and its Sense custom user interface skin. The One Max comes with a removable back panel, which means users can easily replace the battery. In addition, HTC has also give the space for adding a microSD card for extra storage, something that will be of vital importance for anyone who need to take advantage of the device's incredible screen performance with games and videos.It comes with out of the box with Android version 4.3 but it is not yet official when the company will get the upgrade to Android 4.4.The Max has 2GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of built-in storage with a micro SD slot for adding up to 64GB of additional of space.The phone has a 3300 mAh battery which should give it some good battery life. But with the One Max, HTC is offering a HTC Power Flip Case, a 1150mAh battery expansion. It will be available in Glacial Silver colour. HTC hopes that with a full trio of different-size One smartphones will add to company's fortunes amid increasingly bleak financial reports. “The addition of the HTC One max means that we now have an HTC One phone for everyone,” said CEO Peter Chou alongside the announcement.Also by offering a biometric sensor, HTC joins the race of premium handset markers giving their nod to biometrics. Now Samsung is now the only phonemaker among the top-ranked three that doesn't offer a biometric sensor.“The [One] family has been built on quality and game-changing innovations and the HTC One max is certainly no exception,” Chou added. “The upgrade to HTC Sense 5.5 will provide our most amazing mobile experience yet, with the HTC One max delivering the size and power required to do everything you want, and more, without compromise.”Analysts predicted that 2013 would be “the year of the phablet” after analysing the rapid rise of the large-screened phones in 2012.