Skip to main content

Vertu shows off an Android phone we might buy (if we had $6,700)

Check out our review of the Vertu Constellation smart phone.

This year has seen mini versions of popular high-end HTC and Samsung phones, at more competitive prices, plus a cheaper version of the iPhone 5, and now Vertu – purveyor of fine, if insanely expensive, hand built mobile phones – has joined in with a more reasonably priced model of its own. It’s called the Constellation, but with a starting price of 4,900 euros, or about $6700, it is still not what most of us would call affordable.

Recommended Videos

Vertu ConstellationHowever, not only is it more technically impressive than the Vertu TI, but it’s also targeting a different type of buyer. The Constellation is Vertu’s most mainstream phone yet, losing much of the visual drama of the TI, while still retaining the company’s distinct style. So what’s it like? The screen measures 4.3-inches, up from the 3.7-inch display on the TI, and the resolution is 720p. Vertu has once again covered the screen is sapphire crystal – the largest sapphire screen produced for any device in the world – making it almost impervious to scratches, while the titanium body is wrapped in leather sourced from a tannery in the Alps, which has been in operation for more than 150 years. The phone’s leather covering will come in several different colors, including black, orange, Mocha, and Raspberry.

A dual-core, 1.7GHz Snapdragon processor powers the phone, and a 13-megapixel rear camera with a dual-LED flash represents a decent upgrade from the 8-megapixel on the TI. A total of 32GB of internal memory is yours to use, plus the phone has a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front, NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi, an 1800mAh battery, and 3G HSPA+ connectivity.

Interestingly, the Vertu Concierge service, which gives you access to a telephone-based personal assistant 24/7, isn’t included with the new Constellation, but it does still come with a revised version of Vertu Life for a range of exclusive event invitations, and the security services – both personal and for the phone – of Vertu Certainty. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is installed and left largely untouched, and it runs beautifully smoothly.

vertu-constellation-side-shot
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Constellation is aimed at younger buyers with a lot of money. Some of these people were perhaps put off by the TI’s unique style, and want something that at least resembles a mainstream, modern Android phone. It’s all set to go on sale next week with prices starting from 4900 euros ($6700), and like Vertu’s other phones, it’ll be sold through the firm’s own boutique stores and approved retailers.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
When is my phone getting Android 14? Here’s everything we know
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 is out now, and as usual, the first to get it was Google's own Pixel phone family. Not to be undone, Samsung pushed out its version of Android 14 — One UI 6 — after a relatively short beta period and has seemingly now completed its Android 14 rollout. Nothing, the new phone company on the block, has done the same. Now, we're just waiting for more news from Motorola, who has become the stick in the mud holding everyone up.

If you're rocking an Android phone that is still stuck on an old build, here's everything we know about official Android 14 rollout plans for all major brands available in the U.S. market. We recommend using your device's Find on page function to pinpoint your device on this list.

Read more
How to turn safe mode on and off on your Android phone
Android Safe Mode

Safe mode is an important debugging tool for devs on computer, but you can also turn safe mode on on your Android phone. Doing so can can give you access to important tools and change your phone's interface. Likewise, since safe mode restricts access to certain Android features and apps, you won't want to get stuck in safe mode. So, if you learn how to turn safe mode on, you'll also want to learn how to turn safe mode off on your Android phone or table to get it working like normal again. Here, we'll show you how to do both, plus a couple of things you can do in safe mode on Android in case you don't already know.

Read more
How to turn off the camera shutter sound on an Android phone
samsung-galaxy-s20-ultra-hands-on-8-of-11

One "cha-chick" from your Android phone's shutter while you are shooting a photo of the local squirrel and it's gone. Meant to be like the camera shutter sounds of the past, it can still be annoying and might even sound if you have your phone's volume turned off. Can you mute an Android phone's shutter sound, though? As it turns out, the technique to turn off the shutter sound depends on what Android phone you have, it's brand, and even where you bought the phone.

Here's the best bet for you, depending on your situation.

Read more