The Problem with this “Ultra Luxury” Smartphone

MKBHD tests the $5,380 Vertu Agent Q and finds fake camera specs, a human pretending to be AI, and website copy generated by AI slop.

• Vertu Agent Q costs $5,380 despite flagship-but-not-premium specs matching an ~$800 phone (Snapdragon 8 Elite, 1TB storage, 1080p AMOLED).
• Vertu’s website claims a ‘world’s first mechanical zoom lens’ and ‘real mechanical variable aperture’ — both are fabricated; aperture slider is just software blur.
• Camera uses Sony IMX906 sensor, the same found in sub-$500 phones like Samsung A55 and Honor 200.
• The ‘24/7 AI concierge’ is clearly a human in China: typos, PayPal-or-‘USD’ payment, 7-hour lag to order a $29 shirt, and asked to wait until 10am Beijing time.
• Vertu originated as Nokia’s London luxury sub-brand, was sold to private equity, moved to China, and now resembles a ZTE phone with luxury branding.
• Phone has no wireless charging, no IP waterproofing rating, and a USB-C port relocated to the top corner due to the leather wrap design.
• Vertu’s site lists ‘Snapdragon 8 Elite Supreme’ — a chip that does not exist — among other AI-generated buzzword copy.

2026-01-09 · Watch on YouTube