Foto Getty Images, Trump Mobile
Initially, the T1 was positioned as a fully “made in the USA” smartphone with a price tag of $499 and release as early as August 2025. But the deadline was repeatedly pushed back, and the specifications and appearance of the device were changed right on the website. As a result, only a few journalists received the phone by May 2026, while most buyers still haven’t seen the device or a shipping confirmation.
Initial reviews from CNET and NBC News have been chilling rather than enthusiastic. Journalists note that the T1 resembles the smartphones of 2020-2022 and is noticeably inferior to modern models even in the budget segment. Inside, presumably, a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 level chip is used, which automatically places the device in the mid-range but aging performance class.
The origin of the smartphone also raises separate questions. Although it was claimed that the device was designed from scratch, it looks almost identical to the HTC U24 Pro. This gave rise to suspicions that the T1 is either based on a ready-made platform, or assembled from borrowed solutions. The manufacturer avoids specifics, limiting itself to the wording “assembled in the USA” instead of the previously stated “fully manufactured in the USA”.
No less criticism was caused by the design. The gold case received ironic reviews for “unfortunate shade”, and the branded US flag on the back panel was depicted with errors in the number of stripes, which gave rise to a version about the use of AI in advertising materials.
In terms of functionality, the smartphone also does not impress: the camera and battery demonstrate an average level, and a noticeable plus unexpectedly became only the front camera with filters for selfies. Of the unusual – the presence of a headphone jack and almost “pure” Android 15 with minimal improvements.
Against the background of expectations and loud brand sales look modest: according to unofficial data, we are talking about tens of thousands of pre-orders, but actual deliveries remain sporadic. As a result, the T1 is no longer called a technological breakthrough, but rather a marketing experiment, which has not yet been able to prove its viability on the market.
