The Nexus S is a beautiful smartphone, without question. The curved glass face… the contoured body… we’re big fans of Google’s second self-branded phone here at BGR. As has been the case with several Samsung-built smartphones in the past though, the plastics on the device feel a bit, well, cheap. Lucky for Android fans — and unlucky for their wallets — high-end phone maker Mobiado has struck a deal to refinish Google’s second-generation smartphone with its own familiar flair. Mobiado has released two versions of its rebuilt Nexus smartphone: the Grand Touch, machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and then anodized in one of six colors, and the Grand Touch GCB, machined from solid brass and then gold-plated. The phones feature a unique geometric design, with or without black painted sapphire crystal inlays in the corners. Those looking to stand out from the crowd should be ready to part with a fair amount of cash, however; the Grand Touch starts at $3,000 and tops out at $4,000 for the gold-plated Grand Touch GCB with sapphire crystal inlays. Mobiado’s full press release follows below, along with a few more images.
MOBIADO LAUNCHES THE GRAND TOUCH & GRAND TOUCH GCB – UNIQUE. ELEGANT. ADVANCED.
Vancouver, Canada – August 17th, 2011: The Grand Touch is a milestone for the Mobiado brand as its first touch screen phone. Inspired by the sharp geometrical surfaces of gems, every angle of the Grand Touch reflects light differently. Unique and unmistakable from all other phones on the market yet it has a sophistication and minimalistic appearance that displays luxury. Defined by its distinctive straight lines, perfectly flat surfaces, and circular buttons, Mobiado phones are regarded as an icon of modernism. True artistic beauty using only the finest materials and precision crafted components. Luxury in Mobility.
The Body: Exceptional design and hand crafted sophistication.
The Grand Touch body is precision CNC machined from solid aircraft aluminum and anodized to produce an elegant hard surface for demanding everyday use. The Grand Touch GCB is CNC machined from solid brass and is plated with gold. The surfaces of the bodies are created with straight lines instead of curves, a process that can only be done with the precision of CNC machining. A new design language of accuracy and exactness is born. The top of the body is CNC engraved with the signature of the designer, Peter Bonac, to commemorate this new design achievement. The frame is then inlayed with optional black painted sapphire crystal placed in every corner facet. In harmony with the unique look of the body, the entire back of the phone is comprised of 2 pieces of sapphire crystal connecting at a sharp angle. The battery cover is made entirely from one piece of sapphire crystal with a unique hidden sliding mechanism. The screws are gun metal black stainless steel and the buttons are black painted sapphire crystal. The Grand Touch is available in six designer styles: black, black satin, blue, grey, red and silver. The Grand Touch GCB is available in two designer styles: yellow and rose gold.
The Electronics: Merging state-of-the-art technologies with the tradition of phonemaking innovation.
The Grand Touch and Grand Touch GCB are unlocked, with quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900/1700/2100, Integrated A-GPS, and WLAN connectivity. The phones work within North America, Europe, Africa, Asia- Pacific, and South America where GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks are available. They are equipped with:
- 5 megapixel camera with LED flash.
- 4″ display, 480 x 800 pixels, S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, with 16M colors.
- 3.5mm audio jack, MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3 player, and MP4/H.264/H.263 player.
- GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, and EDR.
Multi-touch input method, accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, proximity sensor for auto turn-off, and 3-axis gyro sensor.
