Trump Mobile's T1 Phone Faces Design and Pricing Changes

The upcoming smartphone will be more expensive and less American-made than originally promised.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 1:31pm

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According to a report from The Verge, Trump Mobile's first smartphone, the T1, will have a more expensive price tag and a redesigned camera array that no longer resembles the iPhone. The company's executives also revealed that the T1 will now go through "final assembly" in Miami, rather than being "proudly designed and built in the United States" as initially claimed.

Why it matters

The changes to the T1's design and pricing raise questions about Trump Mobile's ability to deliver on its early promises and could impact consumer interest in the device. The shift away from American manufacturing also contradicts the company's nationalist branding.

The details

The Verge report indicates that the T1's camera array has been redesigned, moving away from the iPhone-like layout to a misaligned vertical stack of three cameras. Additionally, the price for the T1 has been increased, with early depositors still paying $499 but later customers potentially charged up to $999. Trump Mobile's executives also acknowledged that the T1 will now only undergo "final assembly" in Miami, rather than being fully designed and built in the United States as originally claimed.

  • The Verge report was published on February 7, 2026.

The players

Trump Mobile

A smartphone company founded by three executives, including Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas, that is developing the T1 smartphone.

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What they’re saying

“Anyone who paid the $100 deposit will still pay $499 total for the T1 as an "introductory price," but that later customers could fork up to $999.”

— Don Hendrickson, Trump Mobile Executive (The Verge)

“The T1 smartphone will go through "final assembly" in Miami and no longer be "proudly designed and built in the United States," as seen in the introductory press release.”

— Eric Thomas, Trump Mobile Executive (The Verge)

What’s next

The T1 smartphone is still expected to be released "later this year," according to Trump Mobile's website, but an exact release date has not been announced.

The takeaway

The changes to the T1's design and pricing, as well as the shift away from full American manufacturing, raise concerns about Trump Mobile's ability to deliver on its initial promises and could impact consumer interest in the device. The company's nationalist branding is also called into question by these revelations.