Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 17
TechCrunch Finds Vertu’s $6,880 Alphafold AI Agent Falls Short Against Samsung
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 17

TechCrunch Finds Vertu’s $6,880 Alphafold AI Agent Falls Short Against Samsung

2 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Jul 17

Summary

  • $6,880 Vertu Alphafold impressed more with luxury materials than with dependable AI, as TechCrunch found its Hermes agent ambitious but not polished enough to justify the premium.
  • Hermes handled local file analysis and multi-step actions more aggressively than Samsung’s Gemini, but it also made execution errors—setting a reminder for the wrong time, creating a trip on wrong dates, and losing document context.
  • Vertu confirmed the foldable uses a ZTE/Nubia hardware platform, with the company adding leather, titanium, software, quality control and concierge services on top of that base.
  • 264-gram Alphafold felt heavier than Samsung’s 215-gram Galaxy Z Fold 7, while missing wireless charging despite battery life lasting more than a day in testing.
  • The review suggests Vertu’s real pitch is an AI-and-concierge ecosystem for executives, but Samsung’s cheaper foldable still offered a more mature overall experience.

Insights

Beyond its luxury materials, can Vertu's developing AI truly outsmart established giants like Google's Gemini?
Are Alphafold's 'quantum security' claims a real safeguard for executives or just sophisticated luxury marketing?