Vertu reveals a luxury foldable smartphone with an AI agent for $6,880

Luxury smartphone manufacturer "Vertu" has officially introduced its new model "Alphafold" – a "book-style" foldable phone that the company markets as an "AI-based command center" for executives and top management. The starting price is $6,880 for the calfskin version, while the most expensive editions featuring gold and diamonds reach nearly $47,000.

The device is aimed at a very narrow circle of affluent clients who are looking for a combination of premium craftsmanship, exclusive materials, and integrated artificial intelligence capable of handling a significant portion of daily business tasks.

The "Hermes" AI agent – a personal assistant for top executives

The heart of the "Alphafold" is the "Hermes" AI agent, based on the open-source project of the same name from "Nous Research". Positioned as a "digital chief of staff", the agent connects to corporate systems such as ERP and CRM platforms and takes over tasks from the manager's daily operations.

Through natural language queries, "Hermes" can approve applications, schedule appointments, monitor sales, organize business trips, and generate operational reports. The phone distributes requests among several AI models – including "GPT" from "OpenAI", "Claude" from "Anthropic", and "Gemini" from "Google" – and can integrate with over 80 applications and dozens of built-in device functions.

According to technology outlets, the "Hermes" agent is capable of acting autonomously and performing tasks on behalf of the user: collecting sales data, managing workflows, and interacting with platforms – from "Google" services to "Expedia" and "Amazon Shopping".

Hardware: a foldable flagship with an emphasis on luxury

"Alphafold" is a book-style foldable smartphone with an 8-inch internal display with no visible crease, a resolution of 2480 x 2200 pixels, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The external screen has a diagonal of 6.53 inches, allowing for full functionality even in folded mode.

The phone features a 6500 mAh battery based on silicon-carbon technology, which according to specifications should provide higher energy density and better durability compared to conventional lithium-ion solutions. Performance is handled by the "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4" chipset – a generation behind the company's latest flagship – in combination with a camera system featuring a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module, and a 5-megapixel telephoto camera.

Materials and price: from calfskin to gold and diamonds

The luxury character of "Vertu" is most evident in the materials and price levels. The base version is in calfskin and starts at $6,880. For customers looking for an even more exclusive appearance, an alligator leather version is offered for $8,800, as well as a top-tier variant with a body made of precious metals and diamond inlays priced at around $43,800.

The first batch includes 115 devices, which are hitting the market this week in key premium markets, including the USA. The limited quantity and high price are part of the brand's strategy to maintain the sense of exclusivity and belonging to an elite club.

Vertu's strategy in the era of artificial intelligence

With the "Alphafold", "Vertu" is trying to redefine its market position by combining traditional luxury craftsmanship with the capabilities of agentic artificial intelligence. The device is aimed at executives for whom mass-market foldable smartphones are perceived as "insufficient" in terms of exclusivity and functionality.

Thus, the focus is not so much on whether a last-year processor and a 5-megapixel telephoto camera justify a price of nearly $7,000, but on the overall package – premium materials, limited production, and an AI assistant designed to take over some of the owner's work. "Vertu" is clearly banking on its target audience – wealthy professionals and top managers – appreciating exactly this combination and responding to the question of value with their wallets.