With the T1 Phone, Trump Mobile sought to introduce a smartphone that embodies American values and was originally even marketed with the promise “Made in the USA.” However, a recent analysis by the repair experts at iFixit paints a different picture. According to the analysis, the Donald Trump phone is apparently largely a modified HTC U24 Pro with a gold finish and a few technical tweaks. The findings raise questions not only about the device’s origin but also about the product’s originality.
- iFixit identifies strong technical similarities between the T1 Phone and the HTC U24 Pro
- Differences mainly concern the battery, memory supplier, and case design
- “Made in USA” has since been replaced by significantly more cautious wording
- Price and repairability are nearly on par with the HTC model
Donald Trump’s phone shares a surprising number of similarities with the HTC U24 Pro
Shortly after the unveiling of Donald Trump’s T1 Phone, there was speculation that Trump Mobile had not presented a completely new smartphone. iFixit’s investigation now appears to largely confirm these suspicions. According to the repair experts, the device even functions with a motherboard from the HTC U24 Pro, suggesting an almost identical technical foundation.
Initial CT scans of the internal components already revealed striking similarities. Even after opening the smartphone, the experts found numerous commonalities. The external differences are largely limited to cosmetic adjustments such as the gold-colored back cover, modified camera elements, and slightly altered speaker openings.
The developments surrounding the smartphone’s marketing are particularly interesting. While it was initially advertised with the slogan “Made in USA,” Trump Mobile now uses significantly more restrained wording. Accordingly, the packaging now only states that the device was “proudly assembled in the USA.” The analysis suggests that many of the components used come from international supply chains rather than American production.
How the T1 Phone differs from the HTC smartphone
Despite their strong technical similarities, there are some differences between the two devices. Both the T1 Phone and the HTC U24 Pro feature the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, 12 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of internal storage. However, according to the analysis, the memory components come from different manufacturers. While HTC uses components from SK Hynix, the T1 Phone uses components from Micron.
The biggest technical difference concerns the battery. The Donald Trump phone has a battery with a 5,000 mAh capacity, while the HTC U24 Pro is equipped with a 4,450 mAh battery. At the same time, the HTC model supports a significantly higher charging power of up to 60 watts, while the T1 Phone is limited to 30 watts.
The devices are also very similar in terms of official specifications. The T1 Phone offers a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a triple camera with a 50-megapixel main sensor, and Android as the operating system. Its features thus largely match those of the HTC U24 Pro.
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Another interesting point is repairability. Both smartphones score only 3 out of 10 on iFixit, making them relatively difficult to repair. There is also little difference in price: With a retail price of $499, the T1 Phone is in a similar price range as the technically comparable HTC model.
Conclusion
iFixit’s analysis suggests that the Donald Trump-branded T1 Phone is largely based on the HTC U24 Pro. While there are modifications to the battery, individual components, and the design, the technical foundation appears to be nearly identical. This brings earlier marketing claims about the device’s American origins further into focus. The T1 Phone is available for $499 and is priced in the range of established mid-range smartphones.
