Luxury smartphone brand Vertu has launched its newest foldable device, the Alphafold, targeting consumers who value exclusivity alongside advanced smartphone features. The company is presenting the phone as a premium business-focused device powered by artificial intelligence (AI), while its unusually high price is already generating significant online interest. Alongside its foldable design, Vertu has also emphasized luxury materials, enterprise-oriented AI tools, and enhanced privacy features.
A foldable phone designed for executives
The Vertu Alphafold starts at $6,880 for the standard calfskin leather edition. For those seeking more luxurious finishes, the alligator leather variant is priced at $8,800. Vertu is also offering an ultra-luxury customized version featuring gold detailing and diamond accents, with prices reaching up to $46,800. At this price point, the Alphafold is significantly more expensive than flagship foldables from major brands like Samsung, Oppo, and Huawei.
Unlike mainstream foldables that focus on cameras or entertainment, Vertu is positioning the Alphafold as a business-oriented AI device. The phone comes with an AI system called Hermes Agent, which can reportedly manage schedules, approvals, travel plans, workflow coordination, and other enterprise-related tasks using natural language prompts. According to the company, the AI can also interact with multiple apps and enterprise systems such as ERP and CRM platforms.
Vertu claims the AI assistant can connect with services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Maps, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Amazon, and other productivity tools. The company is also stating that sensitive information can be processed locally on the device with the help of a dedicated A5 security chip. High-risk tasks, including financial approvals, still require manual confirmation from the user.
Luxury materials meet flagship hardware
The Vertu Alphafold features an 8.05-inch foldable OLED display alongside a 6.53-inch outer screen, both supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and includes a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon battery with support for fast wired and wireless charging. On the camera side, the phone includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 5-megapixel telephoto lens.
The company states that the hinge uses titanium and carbon-fibre materials and is rated for up to 650,000 folds. Vertu continues its luxury branding with handcrafted finishes, exotic leather options, concierge services, and customised detailing for buyers willing to spend more.
Foldable smartphones remain a relatively niche category globally, but Vertu clearly believes there is room for ultra-luxury devices that combine AI tools with premium craftsmanship. Whether buyers will spend several lakhs on a foldable smartphone remains to be seen.
And one more thing, the Vertu Alphafold does not appear to be an entirely original device. The phone is reportedly based on a reskinned version of the Nubia Fold, which first debuted in China in December 2025.
