For those who only have eyes on very expensive phones that scream luxury, and happen to be in the market for the ultimate luxe folding phone, the OG of luxe phones has you covered. Yes, I’m talking Vertu. And also yes, Vertu is very much alive and kicking.
The brand has been reinventing itself, keeping itself relevant, well, kinda, if you think Web3 phones are relevant. I think it would be hard to stay “relevant” when the trend is all about thinness, because with all the luxe materials, a Vertu phone, folding or otherwise, will never be thin and light. But who cares about thin and light when you’re looking at the ultimate in opulence, right?
Building on the foundation of its first flip-style folding phone is the new Vertu Quantum. Crafted from aerospace-grade titanium alloy with HV900 hardness, the new Quantum isn’t just luxury; it’s tough too. It’s scratch-proof, rust-proof while remaining gentle on your skin. Well, not that you’re going to rub it against your skin or anything like that. Just so you know, it ain’t toxic.
The pristine finish is the result of luxury timepiece-level precision craftsmanship, including 3 hours of hand polishing. It’s nearly unbreakable and can power through extreme temperatures, enduring everything from 15°C Arctic winds to 60°C desert heat. It may not look like it, but it can survive 1.2-meter drops onto marble. On top of all that, its “King Kong” hinge is certified to withstand up to 650,000 folds.
There’s no actual quantum tech, though it does enjoy the benefit of quantum encryption, specifically the BB84 cryptographic protocol. Powering the device is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite “Supreme” Edition and the 7th Generation AI Engine. Speaking of AI, it has VPS AI, a central intelligence with specialized agents—letting you generate images, videos, audio, and conversations.
The new Vertu Quantum claims to be the world’s first quantum-encrypted 3 nm AI chip foldable phone. Other spec-sheet details include 16 GB LPDDR5X memory, 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage, a 3-inch OLED second display, a 120 Hz 6.9-inch FHD+ (2,790 x 1,881 pixels) flexible OLED main display, a 50 MP AI dual-camera with intelligent stabilization (OIS+EIS), a 32 MP front-facing camera, USB Type-C, dual nano SIM, dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support, a 4,300 mAh battery with 65 W Flash Charging, and fingerprint and face recognition.
The fingerprint tech here is more than meets the eye. It supports three fingerprints that can unlock different functions depending on the digit. For example, the thumb can unlock business, while the index finger opens up secrets. And because being rich enough to afford this phone probably means you’ve got a bunch of skeletons in the digital closet, it features a quick data destruction function. When in “danger,” a single touch, presumably with one of the registered fingerprints, can destroy your data in milliseconds, removing all trace of it ever existing. Well, that sure sounds like a supervillain phone.
In true Vertu tradition, each phone grants you access to a private assistant offering bespoke services and exclusive experiences, which you can activate with a press of the ruby button on the side of the phone. There are three materials and a selection of colors depending on the material: Cyber, Agate, and Alligator. Prices start at US$4,300.
Images: Vertu.
