Vertu’s Bentley phone costs more than some cars

Vertu is known for its high priced, low-tech devices. Some models costs thousands of dollars, and the new Vertu Signature for Bentley edition phone has a price tag of more than $22,000.

It’s the latest phone to come out a 5-year partnership with luxury car-maker Bentley, and it might not seem like that much money if you’re the sort of person that drives a Bentley… but you could probably by an economy car or two for the price of this phone.

This year’s extravagant Bentley accessory isn’t even a smartphone It’s a feature phone with no touch screen, and an an alphanumeric keypad running Series 40 software.

The Signature for Bentley is modeled after the carmaker’s Mulsanne Speed. It has a stainless steel polished knurled finish and a carbon fiber pillow surrounding the speaker. The leather casing is from the same tannery that Bentley uses for its luxury interiors.

The paltry tech specs include a two-inch sapphire display screen, 4GB of internal memory, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and a 1050mAh battery, which lasts up to 300 hours on standby.

One benefit of having a mobile phone that costs as much as some yearly salaries is that it’s owner can custom design the look to match his or her car. Owners have the option of 2,300 leather and stitching combinations, a choice of gemstones, and either a black metal or sapphire keypad.

Another benefit is the 24-hour-a-day on hand personal assistant. This is no Siri style virtual assistant. The Vertu Concierge is a real life, 24-hour personal assistant available at the touch of a button.

If you are one of the rare few who considers a $22,000 a justifiable purchase, you’ll have to wait until September to get your hands on one.