Death Match: Vertu Signature VS Tag Meridiist review

October 24, 2008 · Filed Under Uncategorized 

Sir, I demand satisfaction!

 

A mobile phone speaks volumes about a gentleman’s quality and, with that in mind, we ask: what does yours say about you?

 

 

If you happen to have either a Vertu Signature or a Tag Meridiist lurking in your finely-stitched, bespoke-tailored pockets, it says that you’re doing rather well for yourself. Either that or you’ve just mugged a dentist.

 

 

The Vertu Signature is a bejewelled beauty from Nokia’s luxury arm, crafted from precious white gold and tastefully scattered with rubies. The Merridiist, meanwhile, is the debut phone from master watchmakers Tag Heuer. It’s been five years in development, and they appear to have been five years well spent.

 

 

Assembled by hand, and lovingly honed by their respective manufacturers, these stylish mobiles are all about outer beauty.

 

 

Features

 

 

Vertu Signature £21,000

 

 

With Bluetooth 2.0, push email, 3G and Wi-Fi, this quad-band phone is very well equipped. There’s a generous four gigs of storage, but no camera.

 

 

Tag Meridiist £2,650

 

 

Hardly crammed with features, the Meridiist contains A2DP Bluetooth, a respectable 2GB of memory and a not-so-respectable, two-meg camera.

 

 

Winner: Vertu Signature

 

 

Looks

 

 

Vertu Signature

 

 

From the illuminated, ruby-studded keyboard, to the understated elegance of the hidden “on” button, the Signature oozes overstated glamour.

 

 

Tag Meridiist

 

 

Next to the bling-encrusted Vertu, the Meridiist is more understated, but no less stylish. Personalise it with plush alligator-skin or leather covers.

 

 

Winner: Draw

 

 

Ease of use

 

 

Vertu Signature

 

 

Key switches on the patented keyboard make typing a breeze and the crystal display is sharp. You’ll also feel right at home with the Nokia interface.

 

 

Tag Meridiist

 

 

Menus lack the design flare of the Vertu, and it can be fiddly to navigate, but it’s only a minor annoyance. The solid keyboard is a typist’s dream.

 

 

Winner: Vertu Signature

 

 

Materials

 

 

Vertu Signature

 

 

Attired in white gold and black ceramic, the Vertu is the only electronic product with a Swiss Assay Office hallmark, normally reserved for jewellery.

 

 

Tag Meridiist

 

 

With a corrosion-resistant steel body and 60.5 carat sapphire glass screens, the Tag feels reassuringly expensive. Granted it’s not white gold, but we like it.

 

 

Winner: Draw

 

 

Extras

 

 

Vertu Signature

 

 

Ring tones composed by Dario Marianelli and recorded by the LSO, and a concierge service that can get you a lobster at two in the morning. Now that’s classy.

 

 

Tag Meridiist

 

 

An extra screen in the top of the phone displays the time and caller info. While the special Tag Heuer switch sends out polite call reject messages.

 

 

Winner: Vertu Signature

 

 

Cost

 

 

Vertu Signature

 

 

At £21,000, the Signature costs the same as a car. At £7,400 the stainless steel version is still more than most people will spend on phones in a lifetime.

 

 

Tag Meridiist

 

 

The £2,650 price is piffling compared to the Vertu -that’s not going to impress anyone. Perhaps spank a bit more green by smothering it in diamonds.

 

 

Winner: Vertu Signature

 

Who’s the king of bling?

 

 

The Meridiist effortlessly exudes style and quality, but doesn’t require a billionaire’s cheque book. Where’s the fun in penny-pinching, though? The Meridiist lacks that Vertu drool factor. The Vertu has more refinement than most of the royal family, but it’s hard not to enjoy a phone that costs the GNP of Gambia and weighs the same as a gun. Russian oligarchs will love it.

 

 

Winner: Vertu Signature

 

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