Vertu wants CEOs to run companies from an AI foldable starting at $6,880

Source: TechCrunch

Luxury smartphone brand Vertu on Thursday unveiled a foldable phone powered by an AI agent that connects with enterprise software and coordinates workflows. The company is targeting executives who manage business operations and communications on the move.

Pricing & Materials

• Alphafold (foldable smartphone) – starts at $6,880 for the calfskin version.
• Higher‑end models feature bespoke finishes, including alligator leather, 18K gold, and natural‑diamond accents, along with customized detailing.
• Vertu’s highest‑end standard model is currently priced at $46,800, with further customization options available.

Company Background

The launch marks Vertu’s latest attempt to reinvent itself for the AI era after struggling to remain relevant in the modern smartphone market.

• The Hong‑Kong‑headquartered company was once known for luxury handsets and concierge services popular among wealthy buyers before the rise of the iPhone.
• Vertu has changed ownership multiple times as mainstream smartphone makers came to dominate the industry.

Nevertheless, Vertu is betting the Alphafold can help reinvent the brand by combining luxury hardware with enterprise‑focused AI capabilities.

AI Agent – Hermes Agent

Vertu’s Alphafold comes with Hermes Agent, built on top of the open‑source Hermes project by Nous Research.

• Connects to enterprise systems such as ERP and CRM.
• Coordinates tasks (approvals, scheduling, sales tracking, travel planning, operational reporting) via natural‑language prompts.
• Phone‑to‑ERP and VPS deployments are customized per customer, with pricing varying accordingly.

The Alphafold can route requests across multiple AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and selected open‑source models, while integrating with 80+ apps and dozens of native phone functions for cross‑platform workflows.

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Image Credits: Vertu

Enterprise‑Focused AI vs. Consumer AI

Existing AI features on smartphones from major manufacturers remain focused largely on consumer tools such as image editing and voice assistance, Vertu CEO Molly Ma said. This leaves room for more advanced AI‑agent workflows tied to enterprise systems.

Ma referenced earlier AI‑agent smartphone experiments in China that gained popularity before facing data‑privacy challenges and cloud‑based data‑collection concerns.

Privacy & Security Architecture

• Proprietary A5 security chip isolates authentication keys, biometric credentials, and sensitive enterprise information from the main OS.
• Commercially sensitive data can be processed locally on the device.
• Prompts sent to external AI models are redacted or tokenized before leaving the phone.

Vertu has emphasized these privacy and security features but notes that the system has not yet undergone third‑party security audits or independent certification. Independent audits and certification remain on Vertu’s security roadmap as an “explicit next‑stage commitment,” with plans to communicate progress and results publicly once the product matures.

Hardware Specs

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
• Display: 8.05‑inch foldable + 6.53‑inch outer screen
• Battery: 6,500 mAh with satellite communication capabilities
• Camera: Triple rear setup – 50 MP primary, 50 MP ultrawide, 5 MP telephoto
• Hinge: Metal, titanium, and carbon‑fiber components, rated for up to 650,000 folds

Previous AI‑Foldable Attempts

The Alphafold is not Vertu’s first attempt to combine AI with foldable devices. Last year the company introduced Agent Q, a clamshell‑style foldable smartphone focused on AI‑driven automation and productivity.

Ma told TechCrunch that Alphafold represents a significant step forward from Agent Q, citing rapid maturation of AI‑agent technology over the past year (improvements in memory, automation, and app integration).

Market Context

Foldable smartphones remain a niche segment globally despite years of investment by major manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei.

• 20 million foldable smartphones were shipped worldwide in 2025, < 2 % of total smartphone shipments (IDC).
• Average price of foldables in 2025: ≈ $1,300, roughly three times the price of non‑foldable smartphones.

Kiranjeet Kaur, associate research director for mobile phones at IDC, said foldables could eventually benefit from AI‑agent workflows because their larger displays are better suited for multitasking and productivity‑oriented experiences. However, she added that enterprise AI adoption on smartphones still lags behind computers, and most enterprise smartphone decisions continue to be driven by ecosystem integration and device‑management support rather than AI capabilities.

15‑unit batch of Vertu’s Alphafold begins shipping this week across major markets including the U.S.

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