Unexpected Discovery About Trump’s Phone: Advertised as American, But Teardown Reveals Chinese Guts?
Unexpected Discovery About Trump’s Phone: Advertised as American, But Teardown Reveals “Chinese Guts”?
Although described as a phone embodying “American values,” findings suggest the Trump Phone is almost a direct copy of the HTC U24 Pro.
Trump Phone Exterior, HTC U24 Pro Core
After iFixit’s “surgical operation,” the highly anticipated Trump Phone has had its true nature exposed: It is merely an HTC U24 Pro given a “fresh coat of paint,” completely devoid of the core “American values” that were advertised.
One of the central marketing messages for the Trump Phone – or T1, its official name from Trump Mobile – was its commitment to delivering “American values.”
On the company’s homepage, this phrase was continuously emphasized alongside slogans like “American innovation,” “design with American pride,” and assertions that it is a product “proudly American.” However, you might not be too surprised to learn that, deep inside this phone, the “American” element appears to be entirely absent.
Recently, the repair specialist iFixit finally acquired a T1 and proceeded to dissect the device. The teardown process revealed a truth: this phone’s internal structure almost perfectly matches that of the HTC U24 Pro – a mid-range smartphone model launched in 2024 by the Taiwanese (Chinese) brand and believed to be manufactured in China.
A few rare differences between the two devices primarily lie in their external casings. Naturally, the Trump Phone features a distinctive metallic gold back, along with a slightly different design for the rear camera module and speaker grille.
Delving deeper into the specifications, the Trump Phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery – slightly larger than the HTC U24 Pro’s 4,600mAh. In return, its fast charging power has been reduced to 30W, significantly less than the 60W charging on the original HTC model.
But ultimately, don’t let those details deceive you – in essence, it’s still the same phone model. From the constituent components and technical specifications to the internal circuit board layout, both are identical.
More Asian Blood Than American
Therefore, the bold claims that the Trump T1 embodies genuine American values, or even calling it a “proudly American” product, are clearly very difficult for consumers to trust.
Experts from iFixit pointed out that the inscription on the device clearly states “assembled in the USA.” This is a completely different concept from the phrase “made in America” – a term that requires meeting a series of stringent legal standards from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which the Trump Phone clearly cannot meet.
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According to sources, the device is assembled from approximately 10 discrete components by a technical team in Florida. However, iFixit suspects that the chassis and screen were actually imported as a complete module (most likely shipped from the very factory in China where the HTC U24 Pro is produced).
The work of the Trump Mobile team likely involved merely attaching components such as the battery or camera module – parts that were themselves manufactured in another country, not domestically produced before arriving in the US.
Therefore, if you are looking for a smartphone with genuine American roots, rather than a product with just a flashy exterior, then this phone is definitely not for you.
Nevertheless, one redeeming factor is that the Trump T1’s selling price is quite comparable to that of the HTC U24 Pro. This means it’s not necessarily a blatant “scam” as many had feared.
iFixit even offered a humorous remark: “Against all expectations, the T1 actually has a fairly reasonable price when weighed against the U24 Pro with identical specifications. The only things you have to sacrifice when buying it are perhaps the 60W fast charging feature and… your own self-respect.”
Trump Phone
HTC U24 Pro
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