Following the debut of the Android 4.0-powered Ti and its $9,600 price tag back in February, luxury phone manufacturer Vertu today took the wraps off of its latest piece of kit. Known as the "Constellation," this new smartphone is actually a tad higher-end than the Ti while also being a tad cheaper (though it's not necessarily what many folks would consider "cheap").
The new Constellation comes in with a price of €4,900, which works out to around $6,619. In exchange for that pile of cash, buyers will get an Android 4.2 smartphone with a 4.3-inch 720p display, up from the 3.7-inch 800x480 screen on the Ti, as well as a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor paired with what Engadget suggests could be an Adreno 320 GPU. Also included are 13-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras, 32GB storage, NFC, Wi-Fi and an 1800mAh battery.
As one might expect with a multi-thousand dollar handset, the Constellation is also made of some materials that are a bit more premium than most smartphones. Vertu has constructed its new device with a large piece of sapphire glass on its face and forged grade 5 titanium case. The Constellation is wrapped in calf leather that's available in black, cherry, dark brown, light brown and orange.
Rounding out the Constellation's feature set is a few unique software features. Owners will have access to the iPass global network of Wi-Fi hotspots as well as a special preloaded version of Kaspersky anti-virus software. Additional security goodies include support for encrypted VoIP calling from Silent Circle, with support for encrypted messaging coming, and support for personal tracking from security firm PSG.
Comparing the Constellation to the Ti, Vertu's newer smartphone looks a tad more streamlined thanks to its less ornate camera housing, earpiece and navigation keys. In exchange for this less flashy design, though, the Constellation gains a feature list that slots it into the mid- to high-end range of Android hardware. That may not be something that matters to all of Vertu's clientele, but hey, it's certainly exciting news for the more spec-sensitive luxury smartphone shoppers out there.
Vertu says that the Constellation will be available in its boutiques later this month and that interested customers can set up an appointment to check a unit out in person. If you'd rather just peep it from the comfort of your own home, you can find a few more images of the Constellation in the gallery below.
