Vertu enters enterprise foldable market with $6,880 Alphafold AI smartphone

Luxury smartphone manufacturer Vertu has launched the Alphafold, a foldable device priced from $6,880, designed to allow corporate executives to manage enterprise workflows through an integrated artificial intelligence agent. The release marks the company’s latest attempt to reinvent its brand for the AI era, combining high-end hardware with enterprise software integration. The first batch of 115 units began shipping this week to major markets, including the United States.

Built on the open-source Hermes project by Nous Research, the Alphafold features the Hermes Agent, which connects to enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems. Users can coordinate tasks such as approvals, scheduling, and sales tracking via natural-language prompts. The device can route requests across multiple AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini, while integrating with more than 80 applications.

Vertu positions the device as a solution to data privacy concerns that have plagued earlier AI-agent smartphone experiments. The hardware utilises a proprietary A5 security chip designed to isolate authentication keys, biometric credentials, and sensitive enterprise information from the main operating system. Commercially sensitive data is processed locally on the device, and prompts sent to external models are redacted or tokenised before leaving the phone.

Despite these privacy claims, Vertu confirmed the system has not yet undergone third-party security audits or independent certification. The company stated that independent audits remain on its security roadmap as an explicit next-stage commitment, with results to be communicated publicly once the product matures further.

The Alphafold is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor and features an 8.05-inch foldable display with a 6.53-inch outer screen. It includes satellite communication capabilities and a hinge rated for 650,000 folds, constructed from metal, titanium, and carbon-fibre components. Higher-end models feature bespoke finishes including alligator leather, 18K gold, and natural diamond accents, with the top-tier standard model priced at $46,800.

Foldable smartphones remain a niche segment, accounting for less than 2% of total global shipments in 2025, according to IDC data. While the average price of foldables was approximately $1,300 last year, Vertu’s pricing strategy targets a distinct luxury segment. Industry analysts note that while larger displays suit productivity experiences, enterprise adoption is still largely driven by ecosystem integration rather than AI capabilities alone.