Talk about bad weather. The economy is shaky and food prices are skyrocketing – but luxury phone maker Vertu has decided now is the right time to launch a new line of smartphones priced around $40,000.
Some might question Vertu’s decision to start selling phones that are so expensive. After all, it’s not nice to flog a phone that costs more than the annual income of many Americans when many people can’t afford a home. But Vertu seems to have faith in its phones’ capabilities as it ties in with Web 3.0, a buzzy but nebulous concept that includes ideas like decentralization and blockchain technologies.
Vert
How exactly does a Vertu phone interact with Web 3.0? It’s hard to tell from the company’s thin press release. The manufacturer claims that the device will have “a 5-dimensional integrated ecosystem, which aims to integrate chips, smart terminals, blockchain, operating systems and high-end services into one phone”, and they want WEB2.0 users to “walk into WEB3.0 seamlessly and smooth. Such a WEB3 phone carries the perfect starting point for users’ digital sovereignty and blockchain infrastructure that can truly help users create their own value.”
Vertu signaling?
As a regular smartphone, the new Vertu models have solid specifications. All models have a ceramic frame and a sapphire glass screen. The phones are powered by a Qualcomm SnapDragon 8 Gen 1 CPU. They also boast a 6.67-inch, 2400×1080 AMOLED display, a triple-lens camera array, and a 4600mAh battery.
If $3600 is all you have to spend, the lowest model includes a carbon fiber finish, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage and, of course, a $3600 price tag. However, big spenders with $41,000 on hand can turn to the top-of-the-line Metavert configuration, which has 18GB of RAM and 1TB of storage and comes in “Himalaya Alligator leather,” 18K gold, and diamonds. Metavertu users can reportedly convert photos and videos into NFTs with one click. These NFTs are digitally authenticated and securely stored on the device. Fortunately, if you’re not familiar with Web 3.0, the device includes a voice assistant programmed to answer Web3-related questions.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Metavertu is typically powered by the stock Android operating system while accessing the everyday web we know and love. However, you can also switch to Web 3.0 mode running on a custom operating system. The Web 3.0 mode of operation allows the creation of a digital wallet with private keys and access to decentralized applications. Vertu claims in a blog post that Web 3.0 mode “solves the security issue of digital assets, which is a big problem in the crypto world.”
Vertu has had a rocky history as a phone maker. It was founded by the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer Nokia in 1998. The company went bankrupt in 2017, but re-emerged a year later and introduced the Aster P smartphone.
Reactions to Vertu’s previous flagship phones have been mixed. Wired he once memorably described Vertu models as “tasteless rubbish”.
Cheaper options
good news? You shouldn’t feel bad at all if you don’t have the cash for Vertu’s new flagship phone. The arguably more technologically advanced iPhone 14 Plus costs just $899. For that price, you get Apple’s acclaimed app ecosystem and reliability. Even the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which comes with an excellent foldable display, can be had for around $1,000.
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
If you’re looking to kick things up a notch with Apple, the most expensive iPhone currently available is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with a whopping one terabyte of storage (double that of the top-of-the-line Vertu), at a relatively affordable $1,599. But if you’d rather stand out from the crowd, you can also go for one of Samsung’s most expensive phones currently on sale, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which tops out at around $1,600, also with one terabyte of storage.
Still not convinced that Vertu is a bit overpriced? Instead of Metavertu, you could buy about 100 units of the very capable iPhone SE, which retails for about $400. Or, you can keep the phone you already have and buy a 2022 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe for about the same price as a Vertu.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn