TAG Heuer's ritzy Meridiist handset gets unboxed

All but the most affluent among us have likely purged the pricey Meridiist from our memories, but if you've ever wondered what exactly a £2,650 ($5,162) cellphone looks like (and really, who hasn't?), you'll definitely want to check this out. The fine folks over at Stuff were able to point their camera at TAG Heuer's exquisite handset ever-so-briefly, and while the images tell half the story, the folks handling it told the other. The chunky phone reportedly reeked of unnecessary luxury and was built solidly, but we didn't get the impression that they were champing at the bit to call this a bargain. At any rate, there are a few more shots where this one came from (that would be the read link, for the uninitiated).

[GreezyG @ Aug 4th 2008 12:58PM]

It's not a cell phone.. its a uh phone-piece

[James @ Aug 4th 2008 3:33PM]

The Vertu Ascent Ti is so much better:

http://www.sybarites.org/2007/10/03/vertu-ascent-ti-exclusive-review/

[Matt @ Aug 4th 2008 1:00PM]

Why would anyone even want the thing other than to say they blew $5,162 on a hunk of metal? It's like three inches thick!

[nDee @ Aug 4th 2008 11:05PM]

obviously people are carrying Vertus in Russia, what's so weird?
It's all about relative pricing.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 1:13PM]

ah... another day another "OMG overpriced cell phone thing!!111one" post

[avester @ Aug 4th 2008 1:15PM]

Hey, what can we do after the iPhone has been released?

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 4th 2008 1:16PM]

.... and more crappy replies.


;)

[xValentine @ Aug 4th 2008 1:15PM]

Phone = $350

Brand Name = $4812

[js @ Aug 5th 2008 12:48AM]

Phone: $299
monthly service, 3-year contract: $3600 at $100/month

You know which phone I'm talking about... by that certain fruit company...

[quomen @ Aug 4th 2008 1:19PM]

Isn't this the brand of a deoderant?

[EricR @ Aug 4th 2008 1:24PM]

Not very funny...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAG_Heuer

[quomen @ Aug 4th 2008 1:51PM]

Wasn't trying to be. Thanks for the correction.

[Don @ Aug 4th 2008 2:05PM]

douche...

[OneLove @ Aug 4th 2008 1:23PM]

Oh Lord.

[BluesK1d @ Aug 4th 2008 1:24PM]

Why don't people ever bother to wipe off their grubby fingerprints before taking closup photos of reflective devices?

[John H. @ Aug 4th 2008 1:24PM]

Well, there's another item on my list of things I will never own before I die...

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 1:28PM]

wow.. you have a To-Don't list?

[Eric @ Aug 4th 2008 1:39PM]

Does it at least come with a watch too?

[John H. @ Aug 4th 2008 1:40PM]

Not yet, making is on my to-don't list. Wait, what?

[projektR @ Aug 4th 2008 1:46PM]

OK, the world is facing a serious food crisis and and yet there are people who spend 6K on this ugly phone? I don't get it.

[CraigJ @ Aug 4th 2008 2:44PM]

And in other news, a family in my town is on welfare and I just bought an iPhone! I'm such a bastard.

[projektR @ Aug 4th 2008 2:50PM]

No you're not. (Unless you spent 6K on your iPhone)

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 4th 2008 2:56PM]

I don't think the welfare-family part makes you a bastard.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 3:44PM]

BASTARD IN A BASKET!BASTARD IN A BASKET!
BASTARD IN A BASKET!

[Ladderless @ Aug 4th 2008 1:50PM]

What makes a TAG watch worth 20 times ones you buy at Wal-Mart?

Don't they both tell time? Aren't they both water-resistant?


Why is it so hard to understand why that same mark-up could be applied to a cell phone?

I just doubt there's much of a market for this - Could it be that they're just trying to prop upi their watch brand?

[avester @ Aug 4th 2008 2:16PM]

They are made to last, finest steel and safire glass that is only beaten by a diamond in strenght, only throws one second in a year, ect.

Wallmart clocks are made out of plastic, the strenght of the glass is beaten only by the one on your window, only throws few hours in a year, ect.

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 4th 2008 6:42PM]

Because TAG watches (or rolexes, omega,breitlings etc.etc.) are mechanical (i.e. made of tiny cogs and springs and things) ,and they are also hand made (at least partly);
But to talk about luxury electronic circuits (and therefore products), nothwithstanding what marketing folks try to tell you, is an oximoron, because el-circuits & boards are mass produced; so the luxury part can be only in the outer case; and no reasonable person should give half a crap about that in an electronic gadget.

Enough?

[rony @ Aug 4th 2008 1:52PM]

hah!!! BIll Gates can easily buy a thousand of these and throw them in the gutter....but he won't...cause he is a great man yet humble. Microsoft FOREVERRRRRRR!!!!!!

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 1:56PM]

rice-a-rony

a san francisco turd

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 4th 2008 2:58PM]

Phanbouy, aren't you from the bay area?

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 3:32PM]

indeed.

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 4th 2008 1:54PM]

Moneyed jerks now will have the choice between this TAG the Bang&Olufsen and the Vertu.
Normal jerks are still stuck with the iPhone only.

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 4th 2008 1:55PM]

Moneyed jerks now will have the choice between this TAG the Bang&Olufsen and the Vertu.
Normal jerks are still stuck with the iPhone only.

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 1:57PM]

cmon haven't you guys figured out how to F5 before reposting yet?

[rony @ Aug 4th 2008 2:06PM]

really phanbuoy? here lemme smear some of that on your pasty face.....you smelly rat.....here's one for you right in the balls.....crrrraaaccckkkkkkkkk!!!!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Aug 4th 2008 3:26PM]

You're getting too excited there Mr. Pepper-Rony.

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 4th 2008 2:07PM]

Really annoyng. I don't know why (nearly) ALL my post come out as double posts here. No I can't figure why.

[KilgoreTrout @ Aug 4th 2008 2:07PM]

Really annoyng. I don't know why (nearly) ALL my post come out as double posts here. No I can't figure why.

[getStringFromObj() @ Aug 4th 2008 2:43PM]

It wasn't funny until the second post +1

[shmengie @ Aug 4th 2008 2:10PM]

i wonder if this will bluetooth with my ferrari and my lear jet...?

[NalosLayor @ Aug 4th 2008 2:33PM]

My god, it's like someone took a VCR from the 80's and glued it to a phone.

[Hung @ Aug 4th 2008 2:45PM]

$5,000 phone wishlist:

• 3.2" VGA (Touch optional) Screen in portrait mode that rivals iPhone's outdoor legibility
•S60 or WM6.1, preferrably the latter
•3.2 MP Camera with GREAT OPTICS and real flash
•Full QWERTY Keyboard in style of Blackjack II or Blackberry Curve
•Worldwide UMTS
•Processor with great performance/watt
•256 MB RAM, 1 GB ROM, expandable via SDHC, NOT MICROSDHC
•Dedicated Graphics and VRAM
•Insanely good battery life
•Slim, no wider than Nokia E71
•Touchball or scrollwheel
•$4,200 instant rebate.

[GreezyG @ Aug 4th 2008 3:36PM]

You missed one thing on your list of what a $5,000 should have:

Hot asian hologram that emerges from the phone after every call for a "happy ending."

[CraigJ @ Aug 4th 2008 2:45PM]

Note to Tag. Stick to making watches.

[getStringFromObj() @ Aug 4th 2008 2:48PM]

at that price, I hope it comes with a tube of anal lube.

[Daniel @ Aug 4th 2008 3:49PM]

the clock display on the top of the phone is cool.

[Mark Bennet @ Aug 4th 2008 3:59PM]

True, the brand is what's making it expensive. I looks good, but it is surely ain't worth the price. If only it comes with a more reasonable price tag..

[phanbouy @ Aug 4th 2008 4:07PM]

True, I double post the most obvious and already-stated points because I forgot my spam-tag.

[Bill @ Aug 4th 2008 7:34PM]

I happen to know some quite wealthy people and they wouldn't buy this TAG Heuer phone - they would see it as a poor investment, since it's just a phone. Interestingly enough, they buy the same sort of bog standard cell phones that everyone else does.

However, I can imagine that this phone would appeal to Middle Eastern oil barons, who just love opulence, and bling-bling obsessed rappers.

[Darkstone @ Aug 4th 2008 7:57PM]

I think it's hilarious that someone billing themselves as a "Social Networking Web Specialist" can't avoid the double-post.