In the watch industry you never have to explain to anyone that form and function are of equal importance. How a watch looks and makes you feel is just as important to consider as how many complications it’s equipped with. It’s a perspective that many other industries could benefit from, especially in the world of tech where we’re all used to the same few sterile designs. XOR are trying to change this by creating hand-built luxury mobile phones, such as the new XOR Titanium X2 and XOR Matte, which focus on quality, exclusivity and security.
On a purely mechanical level, many of the materials and techniques that are used in the production of XOR handsets are similar to those used in horology. Take the Titanium X2 for example. The main body of the phone, which measures 134.5mm x 47mm x 12.9mm, is made from Grade 5 titanium while the screen is made from sapphire crystal and the interface is high tech ceramic. Even the decorative leather backs have a connection to the watch industry as the material is supplied by Jean Rousseau.
I could just as easily be describing the Rolex Yacht-Master 226627 as a luxury mobile phone. It’s the same story for the XOR Matte except that the titanium has a matte black finish and the leather back is made from Louisiana Alligator. Offering an interesting alternative in terms of texture and appearance. At the same time, while they’re made from all these high quality materials, they remain subtle and understated, building on the notion of quiet luxury.
In terms of its utility as a mobile phone, it provides great quality on that front too. It uses a traditional number pad with navigation control below the screen that allows you to move the cursor around the screen and select various options. Messaging, calls, Wi-Fi, 4G, Bluetooth and Near Field Communication are all possible. However, the key feature offered by the phone is safety.
XOR-Shield functions as inbuilt security scanning for digital threats and vulnerabilities within your network and system. Additionally, multi-level passwords allow you to specify how much information a user can access on the phone, keeping your contacts and messages private to guest users. You can also use the XOR Peer function to have secure, peer to peer conversations with another XOR handset or XOR Peer enabled smartphone using end to end encryption, making it ideal for business or personal use.
It’s a premium device that will last well beyond the 12-month cycle of mass market equivalents. Of course, between the high end materials, artisanal construction and in-house systems, it has an equally premium price, starting at £5,100. But when it comes to luxury mobile phones XOR are right up there.
More details at XOR.
