Those who remember the early 2000s know that the Vertu brand represented the unparalleled pinnacle of luxury mobile communications, offering exclusive devices well before the advent of modern smartphones.
After closing its historic British facilities in 2017, the company resurfaced on the market by exploring contemporary trends such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs, to arrive today in the field of artificial intelligence.
The new smartphone model is called Alphafold and it is a foldable that departs entirely from the logic related to gaming or content creation for social networks.
It is a device offered exclusively for corporate executives and top-level professionals, combining premium materials with advanced business-management software.
Vertu Alphafold is the foldable that costs 43,800 dollars
The defining feature of the Alphafold lies in its virtual assistant, named Hermes Agent. It is an agent-type artificial intelligence capable of operating autonomously to complete complex tasks.
The system, based on Android, is designed to analyze sales data, organize meetings and manage workflows by interfacing directly with everyday applications. These include the entire Google tools suite, the main social platforms and third-party services such as Expedia, Amazon and Booking.com.
Considering the sensitivity of the information handled by those in executive roles, the company ensures hardware-level protections are integrated. The data is processed locally on the device whenever possible, and an explicit human authorization is required for any operation classified as high-risk.
The device features an 8.05-inch internal foldable display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 2,480 x 2,200 pixels, complemented by an external 6.53-inch display.
The chassis is elegantly clad in genuine leather, while the opening is secured by a sturdy titanium hinge, tested to withstand 650,000 folds.
The rear camera setup offers a 50 MP main sensor, a full-frame wide-angle lens of the same resolution and a 5 MP telephoto. Battery life relies on a capacious silicon-carbon 6,500 mAh battery.
A notable detail concerns the processor choice: the manufacturer opted for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, referred to as Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Although it is an extremely capable chip from the previous generation, it seems a curious choice for a device whose main selling point is artificial intelligence, considering the greater processing capabilities offered by newer semiconductors.
In keeping with the brand’s solid tradition, exclusivity is reflected in the materials and assembly method. Although production no longer takes place in the south of England, every smartphone carries the artisan’s signature and is partly finished by hand.
The materials range from calf leather to alligator, up to 18-carat gold and diamonds for the special editions. The prices faithfully reflect this elitist vocation: starting from $6,800 for the calf-leather base model, rising to $8,800 for the alligator variant. For those seeking the ultimate luxury with no financial compromise, the customized gold-and-diamonds model reaches the dizzying figure of $43,800. The Vertu Alphafold will be available for purchase starting May 28.
