Marshall Headphones creates its first smartphone, the music-focused London

Just the other day we saw Commodore resurrected out of nowhere with plans to immediately release an Android phone. While the phone has nostalgia going for it, the Commodore PET is otherwise a pretty ordinary Chinese white label device making it a lot less unique in reality. For those truly looking for an original device that will stand out from the crowd while also delivering distinctive features that make it worthy of your consideration, you might want to take a look at the London instead.

The London is the first smartphone from Marshall Headphones and, as you’d probably guess considering the brand behind it, the phone’s primary focus is in creating an optimal music experience. And at least on paper, it doesn’t disappoint, packing two-front facing speakers, two audio outputs, and a dedicated M button that can be assigned to your favorite music app. You’ll also find high-quality audio processing which Marshall says allows it to “play at a higher resolution”. Last but not least, you’ll also get a pair of Marshall Mode in-ear headphones with the London.

The London certainly sounds badass when it comes to music, but it doesn’t end there. The London is also a visually appealing device that is matte-black with gold accents on the buttons and on the volume scroll wheel. Yes, it has a scroll wheel instead of a typical volume rocker.

Of course, looks and sounds aren’t all that matter. Does this thing have enough power under the hood? Yes and no. The London is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 with 2GB RAM. While that’s not a bad processing package and should provide a reasonably solid Android experience, it’s far from bleeding edge. Other specs include 16GB storage, microSD, a removable 2500 mAh battery, a 4.7-inch 720p display, an 8MP main cam, 2MP front cam, and Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.

The software appears to be mostly stock-like in nature, though Marshall is including a number of pre-loaded custom apps designed to record music, make listening to music better, and more.

The London will set users back 4,995 Swedish Krona, or about $590, when it arrives on August 21st. While that’s a pretty high asking price for a normal Snapdragon 410-powered device, the London’s visuals and extraordinary audio aspects could certainly make it worthwhile for you audiophiles out there.