Trump Mobile's T1 Phone has not hit the mass-market shelves just yet. Even so, given the barrage of criticism coming its way from tech reviewers who've managed to get their hands on it, you should not hold your breath for the device to land at a store near you anytime soon.
A tech reviewer has not held back the proverbial punches while reviewing Trump Mobile's T1 Phone, demolishing the very rationale for purchasing the device
The tech reviewer Chris Welch has just penned a review of Trump Mobile's T1 Phone on Bloomberg, demolishing the economic rationale that might compel you to buy the device.
Terming it a "novelty than a serious smartphone contender," Welch takes an exception to the T1 Phone's now-established status as "a gold-painted HTC device from two years ago," which "likely isn’t actually made in the US."
As we reported recently, iFixit has now demonstrated with copious physical evidence that Trump Mobile's T1 Phone is, in fact, a slightly altered version of the HTC U24 Pro.
Of course, the company did try to mask the T1 Phone's origins by slightly changing the positioning of the camera and flash LED, which was achieved by simply lengthening the flex cable, while the spring finger contacts were retained in their original position.
Also, the T1 Phone's speaker grille have holes that have been drilled in a slightly different manner. Comically, both the HTC U24 Pro and the T1 Phone sport a 6.8-inch screen, but Trump Mobile continues to assert that the T1 has a 6.78-inch screen.
In what was their defining evidence, however, iFixit demonstrated that both the HTC U24 Pro and the T1 Phone have the same mainboard: swapped the T1's board for the one in the U24, and then showed that the T1 powered up with an HTC logo. Do note that smartphone mainboards are not interchangeable. As such, the phone would not have powered up if all compatible hardware drivers were not already present and the display's connection cables were not just the right size.
For the benefit of those who might not be aware, some of the T1 Phone's other specs include a 50MP main rear camera and selfie camera, a 5,000mAh battery (with support for 30W charging vs. the 60W charging support on the U24 Pro), 512GB of storage, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Also, do note that Trump Mobile is already positioning the $499 retail tag as an "introductory price," claiming only that the new price tag for the T1 Phone would be "less than $1,000."
Coming back, Welch also took an exception to the supposed value thesis of Trump Mobile's $47.45 plan, noting that it "isn't a good value in today's prepaid market."
As a refresher, the $47.45 plan, which is a nod to Trump's status as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, offers unlimited calls, texts, and data, with data speeds capped after consuming 20GB. It also offers international calls to over 100 countries.
However, as we noted recently, better plans are now widely available. For instance, Verizon Simplicity starts at $45 per month but you can grab it for as low as $30 per month under AutoPay and carrier-switching promotional discounts. The plan includes unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband data, 10GB of mobile hotspot data, international roaming in Canada and Mexico, and a satellite-based texting service. You can add home internet as well for just $35 per month.
Also, just a few weeks back, AT&T launched its "Build-A-Plan," an entirely customizable wireless experience designed to empower consumers with fiscal and functional autonomy over their mobile connectivity, with the base tier starting at $15, and offering unlimited calls and texts along with 1GB of data.
Of course the punchline of Welch's review is the plain-as-day statement that there's a reason why President Trump continues to use an Apple iPhone as his daily driver. After all, what's not good enough for him should not be good enough for his fellow Americans.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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