Is the T1 Phone the most intriguing tech product of the past 25 years?

Who would have thought that LeiTech would one day cover President Trump? Known as the "King of Understanding," Trump has recently stirred up the tech world again. On June 16, Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, jointly announced that the Trump Organization would launch its own branded mobile network service, "Trump Mobile," along with a smartphone named T1 Phone priced at $499.

That's right, Trump now has his own phone. The currently announced price starts at $499 and is available only in a "Gold" color (likely just a gold coating). The back cover features a prominent "T1" logo and the American flag, while the camera design mimics that of the iPhone 16 Pro, giving it a knock-off vibe reminiscent of Huaqiang North market.

Regarding this phone, American media has been eagerly watching, directly comparing it to a challenger for the "iPhone 17" and pairing it with an image of Tim Cook staring down Trump. Considering Trump's recent threat to Apple with a 25% tariff if it doesn't manufacture iPhones in the United States, perhaps the T1 Phone is another warning from Trump to Apple.

Image source: Weibo

Alright, I can't resist the temptation to dive into this "King of Understanding Phone" with you all to explore the truth behind this American tech product.

Senior Phone Configuration, iPhone Pricing

As everyone knows, Trump and his relatives are quite skilled at making profits, and this time is no exception. Although the T1 Phone bears Trump's name and has an extremely "luxurious" appearance, its specifications are more akin to a "senior phone."

In terms of specifications, the T1 Phone boasts a 12GB+256GB storage combination, a 6.8-inch punch-hole AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. Simply put, it's an entry-level configuration with a single main camera and two supplementary lenses.

Image source: Trump Mobile

Additionally, the T1 Phone supports under-display fingerprint unlocking and facial recognition (actually 2D facial unlocking), has a built-in 5000mAh battery with 20W fast charging, and supports a 3.5MM headphone jack and SD memory card. However, the processor model has not been announced, perhaps because Trump assumes that the target users of the T1 Phone won't prioritize performance.

Some American media outlets have claimed that the design and specifications of the T1 Phone are very similar to those of the T-Mobile-customized REVVL 7 Pro 5G phone. The latter is a carrier phone released at the end of 2024, priced between $169 and $199 on platforms like Amazon. If purchased through a carrier channel, it can be obtained for free with a two-year carrier contract package of $10.41 per month.

However, LeiTech further researched the appearance and specifications of the REVVL 7 Pro on foreign websites and concluded that it should not be the same product. There are obvious differences in terms of camera design and memory configuration. Moreover, if the renderings of the T1 Phone are accurate, it clearly features an under-display fingerprint unlocking mechanism with four narrow edges, which does not match the side fingerprint unlocking design of the REVVL 7 Pro.

Although LeiTech also tried to search for OEM channels such as 1688, no similar products were found. However, the T1 Phone looks too similar to those domestic Android phones that imitate the appearance of the iPhone, leading us to suspect it might be a rebranded version of a counterfeit phone scheme from a certain factory.

Image source: 1688

Regardless of whether it's a rebrand, the T1 Phone is quite awkward at the $499 price point in terms of its peripheral configuration. For a little more money, you can buy a genuine iPhone 16e, and for a little less, you can get Google's Pixel 8 or Pixel 7 Pro. If you're seeking higher performance, there's also the Xiaomi 14T with a Dimensity 8400U and a dual 50MP main camera + 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera setup.

Of course, from a "faith" perspective, $499 is not expensive. Moreover, the T1 Phone is supported by Trump Mobile, which offers "unlimited calls + unlimited texts + unlimited data (first 20GB at high speed)" network service for a monthly fee of $47. Additionally, it supports international long-distance calls to over 100 countries, roadside assistance, telemedicine assistance, and other services, claiming to be the best benefit for American soldiers stationed abroad.

It has to be said that the King of Understanding is indeed adept at business, playing the patriotic card loud and clear. Interestingly, besides the lack of medical and roadside assistance services, the package standards of THE 47 PLAN are very similar to those of US Mobile Prem.'s $44/month package, which supports roaming in over 200 countries. This is like reaping benefits twice from the same crop, quite remarkable.

Image source: Trump Mobile

Although many foreign media outlets are eager to buy a T1 Phone and tear it apart to see what it really is, the official website of Trump Mobile indicates that the T1 Phone will not ship until the end of August at the earliest and may even be delayed until September, coinciding with the release of the iPhone 17 series (not saying it's not to threaten Apple).

Therefore, for now, American media colleagues can only examine the renderings of the T1 Phone and discuss the future of this phone.

Made in America? Think Again

What's the most intriguing aspect of the T1 Phone? Of course, it's the announcement during the press conference that the phone will be completely "designed" and "manufactured" in the United States. The American design part is not a big deal; after all, Apple's iPhone is designed in California, so how can copying the iPhone's appearance not be considered American design?

However, the American manufacturing part is another story. Some time ago, Trump demanded that Apple build a factory in the United States to manufacture iPhones, but was rejected by Apple. The reason is simple: the United States does not have the conditions to produce iPhones. Even if production lines are forcibly constructed, most hardware still needs to be transported internationally from places like Southeast Asia and China. Coupled with the high labor costs in the United States, the manufacturing cost of iPhones would double directly.

Since iPhones can't be made there, how about a low-end Android phone? Sorry, that's not possible either. The editor of the famous tech website The Verge analyzed the possibility of the T1 Phone being manufactured in the United States and concluded that it was "impossible." Not to mention that there are not many mobile phone assembly factories left in the United States. Even if a production line is found or built, there would not be enough profit margin at a price of $499.

Moreover, most components of smartphones are not produced in the United States. For example, AMOLED screens mainly come from Korea and China, cameras come from China and Southeast Asia, and a series of key hardware such as processor chips, motherboards, audio speakers, vibration motors, and lithium batteries are basically made in China. Want to manufacture in the United States? No problem, spend tens of billions of dollars to rebuild all production lines and spend a few years training workers, and maybe there's a chance.

Previously, there was a phone called Liberty Phone that was claimed to be assembled in the United States. Its CEO directly stated in an interview with a TV station: "Most of the internal hardware comes from China and is only assembled in the United States after being shipped there. The Liberty Phone assembled in San Diego, USA, is priced at $1,999, while the Liberty 5 assembled in China is $799. The design and specifications of the two phones are exactly the same."

Image source: Liberty Phone

Perhaps realizing it's not feasible, Trump's son also quietly reminded that the first-generation T1 Phone may not be entirely made in the United States, but they will strive towards this goal and eventually bring manufacturing back to the United States. Alright, it's the familiar MAGA plot, and regular internet surfers are probably already tired of it.

Not to mention anything else, Trump's presidential term is a full four years, and the next generation of the T1 Phone probably won't be out for another year or two. By then, if they drag their feet a bit more, the whole thing will just pass. As for whether the phone is actually made in the United States, I don't think anyone will care by then.

The opinions of American netizens on the T1 Phone are also amusing. On the famous tech database website GSMARENA, one netizen directly criticized that the T1 Phone looks like it was made in ten minutes with Photoshop, especially the status bar UI style on the front that resembles the iPhone, making people wonder if it's Android 15 or iOS 18.

Another netizen's comment hit the nail on the head: "This phone looks like a cheap Chinese product." To be honest, China won't take the blame for that. Our phones priced at $300 are much more refined and perform much better than the T1 Phone.

Image source: GSMARENA

As for the comments on The Verge, they're even funnier: "Please tell me Trump didn't buy a piece of land in China and name it the United States to produce this phone" (bro, land in China is not allowed to be bought and sold). Basically, every netizen with a certain understanding of digital products believes that it is almost impossible to produce the T1 Phone in the United States, especially at a price of $499, as it would be difficult to even break even.

In LeiTech's opinion, the outcome of the T1 Phone will undoubtedly be the same as the products in Trump's surrounding stores, changing "Made in China" to "Made in P.R.C" (abbreviation for the People's Republic of China) and doubling the price by simply changing the shell and adding a wallpaper to a phone that originally costs less than $200.

Its biggest role is to provide us with plenty of entertainment. As for wanting to revitalize American manufacturing through this? I'm afraid that's going to be "billions" of times more difficult.

Source: LeiTech

Images in this article are from: 123RF Stock Photo Library Source: LeiTech