Vertu Unveils Luxury AI Foldable Phone for Business Leaders Starting at $6,880

Luxury smartphone maker Vertu has introduced a new foldable device called the Alphafold, combining premium materials with AI-powered enterprise features aimed at executives and business leaders. The company announced the device on Thursday, positioning it as a productivity-focused smartphone for users managing business operations on the move.

The Alphafold starts at $6,880 for the calfskin edition, while premium variants feature alligator leather, 18K gold elements, natural diamonds, and customised finishes. Vertu said its most expensive standard model currently sells for $46,800, with additional bespoke options available for customers seeking further personalisation.

The launch represents Vertu’s latest effort to reposition itself in the modern smartphone market. Once known for ultra-luxury handsets and concierge services before the rise of mainstream smartphones, the company has changed ownership several times over the years. With Alphafold, Vertu is now betting on artificial intelligence to help revive its brand.

At the centre of the device is Hermes Agent, an AI assistant built on the open-source Hermes project developed by Nous Research. The system is designed to integrate with enterprise software, including ERP and CRM platforms, enabling users to manage approvals, scheduling, sales tracking, travel arrangements, and operational reporting via natural-language commands. Vertu said enterprise integrations can be customised for each customer depending on their existing software environment.

The company also claims the Alphafold can route requests across multiple AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and selected open-source alternatives. The platform supports integration with more than 80 applications and numerous built-in phone functions, enabling cross-platform workflows.

Vertu CEO Molly Ma said many current AI smartphone features remain focused on consumer tools such as voice assistants and image editing. She believes there is an opportunity for more advanced enterprise-focused AI systems capable of handling business workflows and productivity tasks.

Privacy and security are also central to the device’s design. The Alphafold includes a proprietary A5 security chip intended to isolate authentication keys, biometric credentials, and sensitive business information from the main operating system. Vertu said certain commercial data can be processed locally on the device, while information sent to external AI models is redacted or tokenised before transmission.

However, the company acknowledged that its security architecture has not yet undergone independent third-party audits or certification. Vertu said external security reviews remain part of its future roadmap and that it plans to share results publicly as the platform matures.

From a hardware perspective, the Alphafold is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and features an 8.05-inch foldable display alongside a 6.53-inch outer screen. Additional specifications include a 6,500mAh battery, satellite communication support, and a triple-camera system featuring a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an ultrawide sensor, and a 5-megapixel telephoto camera. The company said its hinge combines titanium, metal, and carbon-fibre components and is rated for up to 650,000 folds.

The Alphafold follows Vertu’s earlier AI-focused foldable device, Agent Q, which launched last year. According to Ma, the new model benefits from significant advancements in AI-agent technology, including improvements in automation, memory, and software integration capabilities.

Foldable smartphones remain a relatively small segment of the global smartphone market. Industry data from IDC indicates that approximately 20 million foldable devices were shipped worldwide in 2025, representing less than 2% of total smartphone shipments. IDC also reported that foldables sold for an average price of roughly $1,300, significantly lower than Vertu’s luxury offering.

Despite the niche nature of the category, analysts believe larger foldable displays could be well-suited for future AI-driven productivity applications. However, enterprise smartphone purchasing decisions continue to be influenced primarily by ecosystem compatibility, security, and device management capabilities rather than AI features alone.

Vertu said the first production batch of 115 Alphafold devices will begin shipping this week across several key markets, including the United States.