Is Trump's Mobile Smartphone Really a Rebranded HTC? iFixit's Teardown Clarifies

After a series of delays, the T1 Phone, the first smartphone from Trump Mobile, has been officially unveiled, featuring a hands-on video that confirms its defined design, and is now ready for commercial debut with initial shipments set to start soon.

Recent rumors have been confirmed by a video from iFixit and NBC that highlights the close connection between the T1 Phone and the HTC U24 Pro, the model used as the starting point to create Trump Mobile's smartphone.

The Same Starting Point

The base model (HTC U24 Pro) has been slightly modified, including the internal components, and the memory supplier has changed, now coming from American Micron rather than SK Hynix. The battery has also been upgraded, with a slight increase in capacity.

Despite these small modifications, Trump Mobile customers are preparing to purchase a smartphone derived from a mid-range model that is nearly two years old. This is a choice that the company hopes to camouflage with the flashy gold casing and the American flag on the back cover.

HTC has confirmed that it did not make the smartphone for Trump Mobile. However, the Taiwanese company has long reduced its commitment to the mobile phone sector. Both HTC and Trump Mobile could have turned to an ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) that designed the two smartphones.

It is worth noting that the T1 Phone is not yet available for direct purchase by users, but it is possible to make a $100 deposit to "reserve" one of the smartphone units.