The first teardown of Trump T1 Phone reveals the secret (an open secret) that lies under the casing of the Donald Trump-branded smartphone. Presented by the mobile company tied to the US President, the patriotic device is characterized by a flashy aesthetic with a gold-colored case and the American flag engraved on the back. However it is more Chinese than one might imagine, at least based on what emerged from the teardown.
Trump T1 Phone Featured in Teardown Video: The Smartphone Has Been Disassembled and We Reveal the Manufacturer
After delays and postponements, the phone was finally shipped to various press outlets, and from the outset someone noticed a certain resemblance to the HTC U24 Pro. Of course, the design and the golden color might be misleading, but the technical specifications do not lie.
The iFixit team got their hands on Trump T1 Phone, alongside the HTC-branded model: the two smartphones are almost identical, confirming what had been in the air for some time.
The video, produced in collaboration with NBC News, shows several elements that cast doubt on the promise of a device entirely Made in USA. Aesthetically, the Trump Mobile phone closely resembles the HTC model, maintaining its shape and dimensions.
The scan of both devices reveals that the internal layout of the battery, cameras and motherboard is identical, except for the placement of the flash. Regarding individual components, the microscope analysis of the display showed a diamond-shaped pixel layout, patented by Samsung – which produces its screens in South Korea, India and Vietnam.
Finally, a compatibility test was carried out: by inserting the HTC U24 Pro motherboard inside Trump T1 Phone, the device booted up without issues. This proves that the components come from the same factory and were designed from the same plans.
It is worth recalling that the Trump phone was initially announced as Made in USA; however, later the label was changed to Assembled in USA. The final verdict from iFixit experts is that this is a Chinese phone, specifically a rebrand of the HTC-titled model.
