Vertu returns with the US$5,000 Aster P luxury smartphone

While Vertu claims that its devices target high net-worth individuals who value exclusivity and standing out above anything else, these handsets are often described as bling. Wired went as far as calling Vertu phones "tasteless trash" and, in the end, the truth might lay somewhere in the middle. Nevertheless, the fact that the luxury brand once owned by Nokia is back from bankruptcy with a new expensive phone with modest technical specs is something worth checking out.

The new Vertu Aster P is already available for purchase in China and, just as expected, it does not come cheap. With prices starting at the equivalent of US$5,167, this luxury phone sports a titanium frame and a resilient 4.9-inch AMOLED display covered by a 133-carat sapphire crystal panel. However, its innards fail to impress: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, 6 GB of memory, 128 GB internal storage, a 20 MP selfie shooter and a 12 MP main camera, as well as a 3,200 mAh battery — specs that place this phone in the mid-range sector.

The Vertu Aster P runs a customized Android 8.1 Oreo firmware and its ruby concierge button provides 24/7 access to a personal butler. Vertu Aster P owners will also get access to exclusive invite-only events. 

At last, if the Ink Black and White variants are not your thing, you can go for the Dazzling Gold Vertu P which retails for the equivalent of more than US$14,000. Obviously, this is because we are talking about a gold-plated model and not one that simply has a layer of gold paint thrown on its case. Three more variants — blue, orange, and brown — should hit the market at a later time, but don't expect them to be cheaper.