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Vertu's first Android smartphone costs $9,600, admits to falling short of 'bleeding edge' (updated)
That fancy Vertu Ti handset we saw pop up last month? It's finally been priced, predictably out of the average buyer's price range. Sticker shock for Vertu's first device since the EQT acquisition starts at €7,900, or about $10,587 $9,600 in the US, and buys eccentrics with money to burn a sapphire-covered 800 x 480 display, 1.5GHz 1.7GHz of processing power and a 1,250mAh battery -- all wrapped in a durable titanium shell. What's it missing? 4G connectivity, unfortunately. "Vertu will never be at the bleeding edge of technology," Vertu head of design Hutch Hutchison told the BBC. "It has to be about relevant technology and craftsmanship -- it's not a disposable product." At those prices, we'd certainly hope not. Vertu phones might not be packed with the mobile world's latest tech, but Hutchison says that the top dollar pricetag buys better durability. "People think sapphire is just posh glass," he explained to the BBC. "The only thing that scratches it is a diamond." At the very least, Vertu customers won't have to worry about which pocket they keep their keys in. Update: Now with official product shots below and press release (including details on the various stress tests) plus promo video after the break. Also, here's a detailed list of specs: Android 4.0, dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 SoC, 64GB storage, 3.7-inch sapphire crystal screen, titanium casing, 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera, NFC and "Full/Micro/Nano SIM capability" (see new update below). The prices are as follows: • Titanium Black Leather - $9,600 • Titanium Pure Black - $11,500 • Titanium Black Alligator - $12,800 • Black PVD Titanium Red Gold Mixed Metals - $19,900 Update 2: We heard back from Vertu regarding the multi-SIM compatibility, and the feature's indeed just as bland as we had feared: "Vertu Ti can hold a regular sized SIMs, nano and micro. It is purpose built to hold a regular sized version. If a customer has a smaller SIM, the phone has a special SIM adaptor that ensures that it fits in properly." Richard Lai contributed to this report.
