Vertu, the UK-founded luxury phone maker, has launched the Alphafold — a foldable smartphone priced at $6,880 (roughly £5,500) that aims to lure chief executives with an artificial intelligence agent designed to manage their working day. But a hands-on test of the device has raised questions about whether buyers are paying for cutting-edge technology or simply a repackaged mid-range handset wrapped in expensive materials.
The Alphafold runs Hermes Agent, an AI assistant built on the open-source Hermes project, which can analyse spreadsheets, review contracts, automate tasks across apps, and hand off complex requests to a human concierge. Unlike mainstream smartphone assistants that respond to single prompts, Hermes is designed to execute multi-step workflows on behalf of the user — a feature Vertu positions as the device's centrepiece rather than the hardware itself.
Physically, the Alphafold impresses with genuine calfskin leather and titanium accents, and arrives in packaging reminiscent of a jewellery presentation case. However, at 264 grams, it feels noticeably heavier than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 (215g). More critically, reviewers observed striking similarities between the Alphafold and the $1,100 ZTE Nubia Fold — from hinge design and dimensions to speaker and fingerprint-reader placement. System information revealed ZTE identifiers in the software. Vertu confirmed to TechCrunch that the Alphafold was developed through a specialist supply-chain partnership involving ZTE/Nubia's hardware platform, component integration and production engineering, while Vertu handled luxury materials, software, quality control and after-sales service. ZTE did not respond to a request for comment.
This is not the first time Vertu has faced such scrutiny. In 2023, Wired reported that the MetaVertu appeared to be based on a ZTE Nubia handset, with Counterpoint Research noting that Vertu had been adapting existing ZTE models with luxury finishes and custom software. For UK businesses and consumers, the Alphafold raises questions about value and transparency. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been increasingly focused on AI accountability and data protection, while the EU AI Act imposes strict requirements on AI systems that automate decision-making — though Vertu's Hermes Agent falls into a lower-risk category. Experts caution that executives relying on an AI agent for contract analysis or trip planning must ensure the underlying model is secure and compliant with UK data laws.
For now, the Alphafold remains a niche product aimed at the ultra-wealthy. But its existence highlights a growing trend: luxury brands repurposing existing hardware with premium materials and AI software, rather than investing in original research and development. For UK consumers, the device offers a glimpse of how AI could reshape executive productivity — but at a price that far exceeds the cost of the technology inside.