HTC One Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are two of the biggest smartphones available in the U.S. in major carriers. For users who want a big screen, both smartphones seem to be great options. However, there are some differences that consumers need to know before they make a purchase.

Samsung is a pioneer of large screen smartphones with its Galaxy Note series, convincing iPhone and other brand owners that a large screen is not only usable but actually advantageous in a device. Its name implies that the Galaxy Note 3 is the third installation of the Note series and has plenty of lessons learned about the functionality of a big smartphone and S Pen.

HTC is joining the smartphone bandwagon with the HTC One Max that the company dubs as the HTC smartphone tablet. HTC doesn't include most of the features that make the big screen of the Galaxy Note 3 of this smartphone tablet though and it quite hinders the user's experience.

Samsung and HTC take different smartphone design approaches. Samsung opts for the thin plastic or faux leather that doesn't offer a premium feel, while HTC chooses a curved metal design that gives a premium feel. Both HTC and Samsung keep a removable back for SIM card and Micro SD card slots access but Samsung one-ups HTC with its removable battery.

In terms of size, the HTC One Max is bigger than the Note 2 due in part to its BoomSound front-facing speakers that take up space on the front bezel. With a bigger screen, the HTC One Max becomes 13 mm taller and 3 mm wider than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

  • HTC One Max - 164.5 mm x 82.5 mm x 10.3 mm, 7.65 oz
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - 151.2 mm x 79.2 mm x 8.3 mm, 5.93 oz

Despite its thinner size, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 includes an S Pen, which is a stylus that lets users quickly take notes and control the device. HTC doesn't include any stylus. Galaxy Note 3 display measures 5.7-inches diagonally compared to the HTC One Max's 5.9-inches display. Both phones have the same 1920 x 1080 resolution. Both smartphones run the Android software.