The Trump Mobile T1 has been revealed to be nearly identical to the HTC U24 Pro from 2024. A teardown by iFixit shows that the two phones share the same internals and design, raising questions about their “American-made” claims.
Inside, the T1’s main chipboard can be swapped with HTC’s without issue. The differences are small: a slightly tweaked speaker grill, a bigger 5,000mAh battery limited to 30W charging, and Micron memory instead of SK Hynix.
The HTC U24 Pro, on the other hand, carries a 4,600mAh battery with faster 60W charging.
Parts sourcing also tells a different story. The T1’s battery comes from the Philippines, its chips from Qualcomm, and assembly appears to be handled in China through HTC’s partners. This contradicts Trump Mobile’s branding of the phone as an “American-Proud Design.”
Pricing puts the two side by side. Trump Mobile sells the T1 for $499 via preorder, while Walmart lists the HTC U24 Pro (512GB) at $524.99. Shipping delays may be due to partial assembly in the US, but the hardware itself is largely unchanged.
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iFixit’s conclusion is clear: the Trump T1 is not a new design but a rebranded HTC phone. For buyers, the findings highlight how marketing can differ from the actual origins of consumer tech.
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