On Thursday, luxury smartphone brand Vertu introduced a foldable phone named Alphafold, featuring an AI agent that integrates with enterprise software to coordinate workflows. The device is aimed at executives managing business operations and communications while on the go.
The Alphafold starts at $6,880 for the calfskin model. More luxurious versions are available with custom finishes such as alligator leather, 18K gold, and natural diamond accents. This approach aligns with Vertu’s strategy of marketing its phones as luxury status symbols for affluent consumers. The company disclosed to JS that its most expensive standard model is priced at $46,800, with additional customization options available.
This launch is part of Vertu’s effort to reimagine itself for the AI era, following challenges in staying relevant in the contemporary smartphone market. Initially popular for luxury handsets and concierge services, the Hong Kong-based company has undergone several ownership changes as mainstream smartphone manufacturers have taken over the market. Vertu hopes the Alphafold will rejuvenate its brand by combining high-end hardware with enterprise-focused AI features.
The Alphafold is equipped with the Hermes Agent, developed from the open-source Hermes project by Nous Research. This AI can link to enterprise systems like ERP and CRM, facilitating tasks such as approvals, scheduling, sales tracking, travel planning, and operational reporting using natural-language prompts. Vertu mentioned that its Phone-to-ERP and VPS implementations will be tailored to each customer’s existing enterprise systems, with pricing adjusted accordingly.
According to Vertu, the Alphafold can direct requests to multiple AI models such as OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and various open-source models. It also integrates with over 80 apps and numerous native phone functions for seamless cross-platform workflows.
Vertu CEO Molly Ma noted that existing AI features in smartphones from major brands largely cater to consumer needs like image editing and voice assistance. This, she said, opens an opportunity for more sophisticated AI-agent workflows that are integrated with enterprise systems. Ma also referenced earlier AI-agent smartphone projects in China that gained traction before encountering data privacy and cloud-based data collection issues.
To address these concerns, the Alphafold, Ma explained, is built with a privacy-centric design that includes a proprietary A5 security chip. This chip is intended to separate authentication keys, biometric data, and sensitive enterprise information from the main operating system. Vertu stated that sensitive data can be processed directly on the device, and any prompts sent to external AI models are redacted or tokenized before leaving the phone.
While Vertu has highlighted the Alphafold’s privacy and security features, including on-device processing and data redaction, the company acknowledged that the system has not yet undergone third-party security audits or independent certification. Vertu assured JS that these audits and certifications are planned as part of their security roadmap, with public updates to follow as the product develops further.
The Alphafold operates on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and boasts an 8.05-inch foldable display with a 6.53-inch outer screen, a 6,500mAh battery, and satellite communication capabilities. The phone is equipped with a triple rear camera system featuring 50-megapixel primary and ultrawide cameras, alongside a 5-megapixel telephoto lens. Vertu claims the phone’s hinge, made from metal, titanium, and carbon-fiber components, is rated for up to 650,000 folds.
This is not Vertu’s first endeavor to merge AI with foldable devices. Last year, the company introduced Agent Q, a clamshell-style foldable smartphone focused on AI-driven automation and productivity features.
However, Ma told JS that the Alphafold signifies a major advancement from Agent Q, citing rapid developments in AI-agent technology over the past year, especially in memory, automation, and app integration.
Despite significant investments by major manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei, foldable smartphones remain a niche market globally. According to IDC data shared with JS, 20 million foldable smartphones were shipped worldwide in 2025, representing less than 2% of total smartphone shipments. The research firm noted that foldables sold at an average price of approximately $1,300 last year, roughly three times the price of non-foldable smartphones.
Kiranjeet Kaur, an associate research director for mobile phones research at IDC, suggested that foldables could eventually benefit from AI-agent workflows, as their larger displays are more conducive to multitasking and productivity-focused tasks. However, she added that enterprise AI adoption on smartphones still lags behind computers, and that most enterprise smartphone choices are driven by ecosystem integration and device management support rather than AI capabilities.
The first batch of 115 units of Vertu’s Alphafold will begin shipping this week to major markets, including the U.S.
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