If you want to have a wider selection of smartphones to choose from, then go for an Android device. The Android OS runs in the phones of most popular mobile manufacturers, which means you’ll be able to find a phone within your price range. But it seems the Android ecosystem is not only popular with the masses, as even luxury phone makers have made it their OS of choice. Here are three Android smartphones that hit the 2-thousand dollar mark and more. If money was not an issue, would you go for these pricey mobiles?
Titanium-clad Vertu Ti
Vertu, the company formerly owned by Nokia, recently unveiled its first Android luxury phone. Clad in grade 5 titanium, what is dubbed as the Vertu Ti comes with a new slogan, “Handmade in7 England. Powered by Android.”
If you have an extra €7,900 (around $11,000) to spare, you’ll be a proud owner of a personally handcrafted Vertu phone signed by its craftsman. This phone is not just a pretty piece of work though; it’s also built for toughness. Its titanium case makes it lightweight but five times stronger than any smartphone, while the 3.7” sapphire crystal screen is virtually scratchproof. You’ll also get to enjoy a powerful dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, 1.3 MP front-facing camera good for voice call, and an 8MP rear camera with 1080p video capture. If these specs aren’t enough, Vertu impresses with the claim that the phone “has been meticulously tested at Bang & Olufsen’s world-class audio facilities in Denmark with musical punctuation provided by the London Symphony Orchestra.” Sadly, it lacks 4G and still runs on the old Android 4.0.
Vertu CEO Perry Oosting says that the company decided on the Android platform rather than a Windows Phone because of the global reach of Android and its ability to integrate with other devices. What Oosting didn’t mention was that Microsoft doesn’t allow mobile manufacturers to skin Windows with their own UIs. The Vertu Ti runs on its own Vertu Ti UI.
The Vertu Ti might be running on a popular OS, but it would still obviously appeal to those who can afford it. According to BBC, there are only 326,000 Vertu mobile phone users globally even after ten years in the industry.
24ct Gold-Plated Samsung Galaxy S4
There’s the rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 Active for adventurous Samsung fans and the pure Android S4 version for Google fandroids. For those whose tastes run more on the expensive side, however, there’s the Samsung Galaxy S4 covered in 24ct gold. The customized handset by Goldgenie also comes plated in rose gold and platinum aside from gold. Colors to choose from are black and white, just like the regular Samsung Galaxy S4 model.
Buyers in the US can preorder this luxury device for a relatively more affordable $2,200 starting May 23. It has all the S4 features, such as 5inch full HD AMOLED screen, 13MP camera, quad-core CPU, 16GB internal memory, and the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. You can even link it to your entertainment system for easy sharing of content to friends and family. Goldgenie is also throwing in a cherry oak finished box where your gold-plated S4 can rest.
Tag Heuer Racer
Almost everyone recognizes Tag Heuer as the creator of prestige sports watches. With the Tag Heuer Racer, the Swiss brand further establishes itself as a maker of luxury smartphones, which actually makes sense at a time when the digital clock on your smartphone can now replace your wristwatch.
Inspired by GT racing cars, the $3,700 Racer is made of carbon fiber and titanium. It also comes with a shockproof rubber chassis for maximum durability. Sleek-looking with muscular angles, the Racer has a screen protected by tough Gorilla Glass. Specs are less than impressive, though; it’s more like a mid-range phone with its 5MP camera, VGA front camera for video calling, 1GHz processor, 3.5 inch display with 480×800 pixel resolution, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS.
Luxury phones are indeed a status symbol, but the question is, are they worth it? Share your thoughts below.
worth every ct.