The mystery of "Trump's phone": postponed dates, changing specifications.
Last February, two Trump Mobile executives showed The Verge what they said was a near-final version of the "T1" phone. Among other changes in appearance, the smartphone featured a completely different camera array design compared to the design shown on the phone's purchase page. The Verge reported at the time that it had a video call with two Trump Mobile executives, who showed the phone for viewing. This interview came in the wake of doubts about the possibility of launching the phone in the markets, after the expiration of its second announced launch date at the end of 2025 without any updates. At the end of March, The Verge also revealed documents from the US Federal Communications Commission authorizing what appears to be the “T1” phone, according to a report by the website, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya Business. Committee documents show that a phone from Smart Gadgets Global – whose CEO is reportedly Eric Thomas, an executive at Trump Mobile – received certification from the committee in January. The Smart Gadgets Global website appears almost devoid of content, aside from some general images of the technology. According to a report by CNET, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya Business, the site's AI-powered chatbot was unable to provide any information about the T1 phone. As of Sunday (April 4), the phone's online page still indicated that it would be released "later this year," the same as last year. Trump Mobile launched its services in June 2025 with a mobile phone plan priced at $47.45 per month, and currently sells refurbished Apple and Samsung phones for between $369 and $629. Trump's phone, initially announced as being made in the United States, was supposed to launch in August 2025. But when it became clear that large-scale domestic smartphone manufacturing wasn't feasible, Trump Mobile abandoned the "Made in America" claim. Now, the website simply describes the phone as "Proudly American" without explaining what that means for a device manufactured abroad.
Differences in specifications
The Verge reported in February that retailers were planning to release the phone in March. However, March has now passed, and the release date for the "T1" remains unknown. The website claims that the phone will come with a 6.25-inch "AMOLED" screen with a camera hole, a 50-megapixel main rear camera along with two 2-megapixel lenses, and a 16-megapixel front camera. The specifications listed on the website include a 5,000 mAh battery, a fingerprint sensor, face unlock, and 256 GB of expandable storage. But according to the model seen by The Verge during a video call, the screen appears slightly larger, and features a curved edge design, as well as a vertical camera array. It is said that this model will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 series processor, and will have 512GB of storage and a 50-megapixel front camera. The report indicates that the "T1" logo will disappear before the launch, while the phone will retain the image of the American flag. The website is still accepting $100 deposits for the phone, which it continues to advertise at a total price of $499. However, it is now rumored that the phone will be sold at a higher price. Customers who have already made a deposit will receive the phone for the same total price of $499, while anyone else who wants this gold phone will pay a higher, as yet undisclosed, amount. The report indicates that the price will remain below $1,000.
According to Trump Mobile officials who spoke to The Verge, the phone's release was delayed because the company decided to take its time and not launch "the first entry-level phone we had planned to bring to market quickly." The officials explained that the phone is manufactured in a "preferred country" and that "final assembly" takes place in Florida. It remains unclear what qualifies another country as a "preferred" country to handle most of the assembly of the T1 phone.
0 Comments