Trump Mobile T1 Won’t Be Made in America; Know Why New Buyers Have To Pay More for Trump Mobile’s T1 Smartphone While Early Adopters Save

Mumbai, February 8: Trump Mobile executives have broken months of silence regarding the long-delayed Trump Mobile T1 smartphone, revealing a significant redesign and a shift in the brand’s original "Made in America" promise. In a series of recent interviews, including a first look shared on February 6, the company confirmed that the gold-colored flagship has transitioned from a budget-friendly entry-level device to a more robust, mid-range contender.

While hundreds of thousands of customers who placed USD 100 deposits remain in a holding pattern, officials now point toward a March 2026 release window. Trump Mobile Scam? Reports Indicate Trump Gold T1 Smartphone Launch Faces Months of Delays; 5,90,000 Buyers Yet To Receive Devices.

Hardware and Features Redesign of Trump Mobile T1 Smartphone 

The latest near-production model shown to industry observers marks a departure from the renders originally seen on the Trump Mobile website. The device has grown in size and capability, moving toward a "premium-lite" category.

• Display: The screen has been upgraded to a 6.8-inch AMOLED waterfall display with curved edges and a 120Hz refresh rate.

• Performance: Under the hood, the T1 is expected to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series processor, supported by 12GB of RAM.

• Storage: In a rare move for 2026, the phone will offer 512GB of internal storage alongside a microSD slot for expansion.

• Camera System: The redesigned rear features a misaligned vertical camera stack led by a 50MP main sensor. Notably, it also boasts a 50MP front-facing camera aimed at high-quality video calls and content creation.

• Battery: A 5,000mAh battery remains the standard for the device, supporting 65W fast charging.

Price Adjustments and 'Early Adopter' Lock-in

The pricing strategy for the T1 has evolved alongside its hardware upgrades. When the project launched in mid-2025, it was marketed at a flat USD 499. According to Trump Mobile executives Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas, who spoke to The Verge, the USD 499 price tag will now be honoured only for the estimated 590,000 customers who already placed pre-order deposits. For new customers, the price is set to increase, with executives suggesting a final retail price of under USD 1,000, though an exact figure has not been finalised.

Manufacturing: 'Proudly American' vs 'Made in USA'

One of the most significant pivots involves the device's origin. While early marketing boasted that the T1 would be "proudly designed and built in the United States," the company has officially walked back those claims. Executives confirmed that the T1 will not be American-made. Instead, the device is manufactured in a "favoured nation" overseas, with "final assembly" taking place in Miami and Florida. The website has updated its language to reflect this, now stating the phone is "brought to life" with "American hands behind every device" rather than being fully manufactured domestically.

Background and Launch Delays

The T1 was originally slated for an August 2025 release, but has missed multiple deadlines. The company attributed the most recent delays to a 43-day federal government shutdown late last year, which reportedly hindered regulatory testing and certification. Despite the scepticism from industry analysts regarding domestic production feasibility at this price point, Trump Mobile continues to sell its wireless service for USD 47.45 per month - a price point referencing Donald Trump's status as the 45th and 47th President.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 08, 2026 03:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).