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Updated Daily: December 2008

 
Published in: June 2007
    Regulars > Reviews and Commentary > Review of the Vertu Ascent Racetrack Legends
 
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Review of the Vertu Ascent Racetrack Legends Limited Edition
 
Build Quality

 

 

According to Vertu, each new Vertu handset undergoes twice as many hours in R&D than a modern Formula One racing car. Of course, the Ascent is by no means a tech gizmo in the traditional sense, rating only average by most mobile phone industry benchmarks (despite offering Bluetooth in all of its models).
 

While critics use this to justify their disdain for the brand, the Vertu’s raison d’etre is not to be a leader in the field of technology or electronics. Rather, Vertu’s philosophy revolves around craftsmanship and build quality, founding principles of true luxury companies.

Indeed, the Vertu manufacturing facilities in Church Crookham reminded us more of a watch making manufactory than an electronics factory. Characterized by handwork instead of machinery, skilled technicians and craftsmen hand assemble each piece of the Vertu together, plate by plate, screw by screw. It’s as close to the antithesis of mass-production as possible for electronics products manufacturing.
 

Vertu phones also display an almost fanatical attention to detail, as evidenced by the fact that the designers have carefully considered all aspects of mobile phone usage, sparing no expense to enhance the user’s experience.
 
 
Vertu’s phones are subjected to unusually rigorous tests. For instance, the body of the phone is tested via a tumble test inside a rotating cylinder. Again, the phone is built to withstand far more than the stresses inflicted by daily usage.



Under the leather, a layer of silicon molding in each corner serves to cushion the phone in the event of a drop.
Fashioned from sapphire glass and ceramics, the phone’s reflective surfaces are scratch-proof.

Additionally, the display screen is tested by a ball bearing dropped from height. A typical plastic handset screen will crack under a 13-gram ball. In the case of a Vertu however, a 64-gram ball will simply bounce off the sapphire crystal.
Pressing the buttons of the Vertu is a satisfying tactile experience, thanks to the unique two-way pivoting action that results from every key being set on two jeweled bearings.

In the Vertu factory, testing machines depress each key over a million times. This represents a total of more than 36 million pushes across the entire keypad – the equivalent of making 10 calls a day, every day, over a period of 25 years.

Fading of the keypad numeral markings is common among mobile phones. However, this is unlikely with the Ascent as each key is made of stainless steel, with each number being perforated through the keys using lasers. Incidentally, this means that more than 575 holes are drilled into a single keypad.

Is this expense necessary? Well, no. But in much the same vein, is it necessary for a Ferrari to be able to hit 200mph? It’s not necessary, but a certain degree of over-engineering is par for the course for luxury products. The keypad is definitely the most utilized part of the phone, and Vertu was clearly determined to get this part right.
Vertu utilizes a 20mm Yamaha speaker for the ring tone and the speakerphone function. Fifty per cent larger than those used for regular mobile phones, it provides extended bass response and enhanced clarity.
Fittings and tolerances are extremely tight, as a result of hand assembly and strict quality controls. In fact, every worker undergoes six months of basic training before commencing work at the Vertu factory. It’s little wonder then that the stitching on the leather-bound edges is even and excellent, with the leather itself feeling soft and luxuriant.
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