Vertu returns to luxury foldable phones – AlphaFold starts at $6,880

Vertu, once known as Nokia's luxury phone brand, has announced a new foldable smartphone, the AlphaFold. It is a literally opening Android phone that combines a foldable design, expensive materials, an artificial intelligence assistant, and the exceptionally high price tag typical of Vertu.

The starting price of the Vertu AlphaFold is $6,880. The more expensive versions go up significantly: the alligator leather version costs $8,800, and customized versions with gold details and diamond decorations can cost up to $46,800. So it's not really a competitor to regular high-end foldable phones, but a luxury product, where part of the price is based on materials, finishing, brand and services.

The AlphaFold continues Vertu's long tradition of seeing phones as more than just technology. Originally owned by Nokia in the late 1990s, Vertu became known for its hand-finished luxury phones and concierge services. Since then, the brand has changed hands several times, and today's Vertu phones are Android-based luxury devices. According to WIRED, Vertu still emphasizes its British heritage, but the company's headquarters are in Hong Kong and the phones are assembled in China.

Technically, the AlphaFold has an 8,05-inch foldable inner display and a 6,53-inch outer display. Both support a 120 Hz refresh rate. Performance is provided by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and the battery capacity is 6,500 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the wired fast charging power is 68 watts, and wireless charging is also included.

The camera setup is unusual considering the price. On the back is a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and only a 5-megapixel telephoto camera. This partly indicates that the AlphaFold has not been built primarily on the basis of camera technology or price-performance ratio. Mobiili.fi also notes that the phone appears to be technically based on the Nubia Fold, which ZTE will announce in December 2025.

Vertu is particularly emphasizing artificial intelligence in the AlphaFold. The phone has an assistant called Hermes Agent, which is promised to take care of calendars, travel plans and work tasks on behalf of the user, for example. According to the manufacturer, the system can also connect to companies' ERP and CRM systems and use several well-known services, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, WhatsApp and Telegram. In addition, there is an A5 security chip, which is said to protect functions related to artificial intelligence, data transfer and user privacy.

This is both the most interesting and critical point of the AlphaFold. The idea of ​​an artificial intelligence assistant suits Vertu's target group, where the phone is presented as a personal work and service center. On the other hand, the system requires the user to trust the manufacturer and its security solutions, especially if the phone is connected to emails, calendars, messaging services or corporate systems. WIRED also highlights that the update promises have not been given a very strong picture.

Vertu uses titanium, carbon fiber, and leather finishes for the construction. The hinge is said to last up to 650,000 folds. The base model uses calfskin, the more expensive versions use alligator leather, and the customized models can also use precious metals and diamonds. In this respect, the AlphaFold is closer to a luxury watch or handmade accessory than a conventional electronic product.

The Vertu AlphaFold is interesting above all as a phenomenon. It shows that there is still a small market for luxury phones, even though most of the smartphone market competes on screens, cameras, AI features and promises of upgrades. The AlphaFold doesn't try to be a smart purchase in the usual sense. Its price, materials and concierge services suggest that the device is aimed at users for whom the phone is also a visible personal item.

At the same time, the AlphaFold reminds us of Vertu's old core idea: a phone can also be a luxury product, even if the technology inside it is not the most advanced on the market in all respects. This time, Vertu has included a foldable screen and an artificial intelligence assistant, but the underlying idea is the same as in the company's early years under Nokia ownership - the value of a phone is not based only on its technical features, but also on materials, services and the buyer's desire to stand out.

More information: Vertu AlphaFold.

PS. If a smaller screen is enough, the Vertu collection also includes Agent Q phone. It is marketed as an AI agent phone for entrepreneurs, and continues Vertu's familiar luxury line without the folding screen structure. Prices for Agent Q models start at several thousand euros, and the price rises significantly higher for special versions. So in Vertu's case, it's not just about the phone, but also the materials, personalization and assistant services connected to the phone.