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Shallots launch China’s most expensive phone at $1960

AbbieJanuary 28, 2016

Yes, you read that right! Chinese phone maker Shallots have launched a phone made of 24K gold retailing at a whopping 12,888 Yuan!

In China there are very few phones that cost more than the iPhone (the iPhone is usually bought outright with no contract) but in the run up to the Chinese New Year we often see some interesting Chinese products with ludicrous price tags, the idea being you can buy the overpriced piece of tech to really impress someone.

Shallots are hoping to cash in on Spring Festival fever this year and have introduced a smartphone made of (or plated in were not sure) 24K gold.

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To be fair the 6-inch phone does pack a high-end specification list including a 2K display, 2.5D glass panel, Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB internal memory (plus room for a 128GB SD card), an 8 mega-pixel front camera and 16 mega-pixel F2.0 rear with PDAF.

At 12,888 Yuan ($1960) it will be way too much for most customers, but keep your eyes on Shallots as they do plan to launch a more affordable 1999 Yuan phone with Snapdragon 820 later this year.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

About the author
Abbie
Abbie is a self confessed Chinese phone addict! After cutting her teeth on the Meizu M9 she hasn't been able to keep away from Chinese phones keeping her ear to the ground especially for the latest Shanzhai and clone news!

- Dante
  January 28, 2016
  your drawing skills are impressive sir , but insulting my religion of 1pm is gonna cost you…
  CONTAINS :
  1 – ONE PUNCH MAN BAD DRAWN PUN – LIFE
  COST : LIFE
  TAXES : 32 DAYS IN HELL
  TOTAL COST : – 1 LIFE
  OVERALL : DEATH
  THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US FOR YOUR PURCHASE
  - Tajwar
    January 29, 2016
    - Dante
      January 30, 2016
  - Tajwar
    January 29, 2016
    Yeah it came pretty bad looking, but when I’m into it I can do better https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4dd0ded60a27d08b8524ae85d8cb345ba5d1efe6cd67f1c8746004fb670ebbfb.jpg
    - Dante
      January 30, 2016
bassa
January 28, 2016

- King
  January 28, 2016
  he wouldn’t have read this article …. Andi should have drawn him in … without the price in the title. placed it at the end instead… like a climax. and Muhammad would have been all over this space now. 😀
  - Chico Migraña
    January 30, 2016
    - Muhammad Yasir
      January 30, 2016
      hahaa … that would be too easy now , wont it ?
      still kicking … throat infection get me messed up tho.
  - Muhammad Yasir
    January 30, 2016
    +1 for pointing out shortcomings in the title 😀
    Andi , i hope you’re reading this !
- Muhammad Yasir
  January 30, 2016
  hi there 🙂 .
  the local winter set me up with the flu so i was like out for sometime 🙂
  you can read my comment above 😀
January 28, 2016
- inquirercet
  January 28, 2016

- King
  January 29, 2016
  he wouldn’t have read this article …. Andi should have drawn him in … without the price in the title. placed it at the end instead… like a climax. and Muhammad would have been all over this space now. 😀
- Ricardo A.
  January 30, 2016
  I think he’s dead now he read the title.
- Guest
  January 30, 2016
  hi there 🙂 .
  the local winter set me up with the flu so i was like , out for sometime 🙂
  you can read my comment above 😀
- Guest
  January 30, 2016
  hi there 🙂 .
  the local winter set me up with the flu so i was like , out for sometime 🙂
  you can read my comment above 😀
- Guest
  January 30, 2016
  hahaa … that would be too easy now , wont it ?
  still kicking … throat infection get me messed up tho.
- Guest
  January 30, 2016
  +1 for pointing out shortcomings in the title 😀
  Andi , i hope you’re reading this !
Guest
January 28, 2016
- inquirercet
  January 29, 2016

- Alexis T
  January 29, 2016
  Android 4.4 is not the problem IMHO. But seriously… no diamonds ? Only 24k Gold ? Can’t see any chinese richmen buying this cheap crap.
  Buff your game, Shallots !

Wolvie
January 29, 2016
LOL.
You will not believe how many rich people in this world willing to pay that hefty sum of money to buy extra premium gadgets compare to donate to those needy people that don’t even have enough money to have a decent daily meal.
kind of sad to see what we human become now. Freakin’ capitalism in its glory !
Btw if you got a lot of money to throw away, might as well buy this iphone
LO and BEHOLD !! Specially designed iphone for those super moronic (but very darn rich) people LOL
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Did-you-know-that-the-worlds-most-expensive-iPhone-6-costs-as-much-as-a-small-island_id74742
- NextHype
  January 29, 2016
  Android 4.4 is not the problem IMHO. But seriously… no diamonds ? Only 24k Gold ? Can’t see any chinese richmen buying this cheap crap.
  Buff your game, Shallots !

Guest
January 29, 2016
LOL.
You will not believe how many rich people in this world willing to pay that hefty sum of money to buy extra premium gadgets compare to donate to those needy people that don’t even have enough money to have a decent daily meal.
kind of sad to see what we human become now. Freakin’ capitalism in its glory !
Btw if you got a lot of money to throw away, might as well buy this iphone
LO and BEHOLD !! Specially designed iphone for those super moronic (but very darn rich) people LOL
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Did-you-know-that-the-worlds-most-expensive-iPhone-6-costs-as-much-as-a-small-island_id74742
- balcobomber25
  January 29, 2016
  Depends on the phone. I would pay $500 for a Vivo, they are worth every penny to me.
  - Ionut Johnny
    January 30, 2016
    For the perfect camera that I heard it takes photos so good I’d pay too 😀
    - balcobomber25
      January 30, 2016
      - Ionut Johnny
        January 30, 2016
        balcobomber25
        January 30, 2016
        Is there something specifically you need from Lollipop? There are community made updates for FunTouch OS.
        As for price, cheapest I have seen it online is around $459 on Aliexpress. In countries that officially sell Vivo you can find it for under $300.
        
        Ionut Johnny
        January 31, 2016
        Indeed you are right if the os works ok you don’t need anything else, just watched a detailed video review made by Linus, the phone works perfect and I found it on :
        http://merimobiles.com/vivo-xshot-x710l-5-2-snapdragon-801-16gb.htm
        But in the specs of says it doesn’t have 4g, do you still recommend it over blu pure xl, maybe?
        balcobomber25
        January 31, 2016
        Which country do you live in? I believe it has LTE for the worldwide networks (1800, 2100, 2600). I am enjoying the Pure XL and it is a well made phone but the Xshot is still better in my opinion. Vivo devices are just a step above the competition in fit and finish.
        Ionut Johnny
        January 31, 2016
        România, 2600 is for 4g digi. I use it on redmi note 3 and in the past with k3 note.

iKosh
January 29, 2016
Not bad at all, except the 810 which will melt of all the gold from the phone.
Wizy
January 29, 2016
Shallots 24k Liquid Gold ,proudly powered by SD810
Ionut Johnny
January 29, 2016
This is a joke like all the phones that costs more than 400-500 $.
- balcobomber25
  January 29, 2016
  Depends on the phone. I would pay $500 for a Vivo, they are worth every penny to me.
- Ionut Johnny
  January 30, 2016
  For the perfect camera that I heard it takes photos so good I’d pay too 😀
- balcobomber25
  January 30, 2016
  Xshot is still one of the best camera phones ever made.
- Ionut Johnny
  January 30, 2016
  Shame it still has kit Kat…and I don’t know the price.
- balcobomber25
  January 31, 2016
  Is there something specifically you need from Lollipop? There are community made updates for FunTouch OS.
  As for price, cheapest I have seen it online is around $459 on Aliexpress. In countries that officially sell Vivo you can find it for under $300.
- Ionut Johnny
  January 31, 2016
  Indeed you are right if the os works ok you don’t need anything else, just watched a detailed video review made by Linus, the phone works perfect and I found it on :
  http://merimobiles.com/vivo-xshot-x710l-5-2-snapdragon-801-16gb.htm
  But in the specs of says it doesn’t have 4g, do you still recommend it over blu pure xl, maybe? Its în the same price point.
- balcobomber25
  January 31, 2016
  Which country do you live in? I believe it has LTE for the worldwide networks (1800, 2100, 2600). I am enjoying the Pure XL and it is a well made phone but the Xshot is still better in my opinion. Vivo devices are just a step above the competition in fit and finish.
- Ionut Johnny
  January 31, 2016
  România, 2600 is for 4g digi. I use it on redmi note 3 and in the past with k3 note.

iKosh
January 29, 2016
Not bad at all, except the 810 which will melt of all the gold from the phone.
Wizy
January 29, 2016
Shallots 24k Liquid Gold ,proudly powered by SD810
Muhammad Yasir
January 30, 2016
could have used the 820 or waited like patient fucks … and go for Helio x30 but noo… a $2000 phone with a built in microwave oven and covered with melt-prone gold will do just fine !
- Joel Adames
  January 30, 2016
Guest
January 30, 2016
could have used the 820 or waited like patient fucks … and go for Helio x30 but noo… a $2000 phone with a built in microwave oven and covered with melt-prone gold will do just fine !
- Joel Adames
  January 31, 2016
Interesting, I would love to see a silver one
Cellular Barn
February 1, 2016
Interesting, I would love to see a silver one
Kamog
November 5, 2017
November 5, 2017
That’s too costly, i would rather buy Samsung Galaxy s8 or the iPhone x
Kamogtech.Com
UcheTechs
January 31, 2018
The phone is very nice and has cool features, but its price tag is much.. Samsung s6 will be ok.
http://www.uchetechs.com
UcheTechs
January 31, 2018
The phone is very nice and has cool features, but its price tag is much.. Samsung s6 will be ok.
http://www.uchetechs.com