The made-in-China T1 Phone being offered by the Trump organization is still essentially vapor, and certainly isn't the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra portrayed on Thursday, or an iPhone 16 Pro Max painted gold in bad Photoshop jobs.
The T1, or what is colloquially known as the "Trump Phone," continues to be an enigma. It started as what the Trump organization claimed was a "Made in America" smartphone and is now being promoted as "American hands behind every device."
It was clear from the start that this device wasn't made in America, which was later confirmed. However, the bigger issue with the T1 Phone is that no one seems to know what it will look like — including Trump Mobile.
The original device, which is still shown on the Trump Mobile website, was a poor Photoshop attempt in reskinning what appears to be a Revvl 7 Pro 5G. The latest advertisement shared on X is a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with a gold filter and a logo slapped on.
It gets worse. Yet another advertisement was shared by Trump Mobile on Instagram, but this time it's clearly an (incredibly dirty) iPhone 16 Pro Max.
AppleInsider has confirmed that the one that looks like an iPhone has been used repeatedly by Trump Mobile since at least June.
None of these are actual photographs of the device or even renders. They appear to be simple layers added to an existing device in an image editing program. The iPhone one is the most perplexing since it is a photo of someone holding an iPhone, but since it lacks the usual AI indicators, it may just be orange tinting on a dirt-covered iPhone (The T1 and flag are clearly transparent layers added on).
These odd ads likely mean that no one, likely even the Trump organization, has actually seen what the T1 looks like, if it even exists. Even so, the Trump organization is happily taking money from customers on the promise that they'll eventually get some kind of Android device painted with the signature faux-gold, a logo, and an American flag tacked on.
The clear poor editing job gets even sillier with further examination, since under the flag on the Samsung Galaxy S25 there's a clearly visible Spigen logo. The repair mavens at iFixit shared with PCMag which case the image was created from, and it is identical.
Spigen responded on X with a simple "??? bro what."
T1, Samsung, Revvl, iPhone
There doesn't appear to be any rhyme or reason to the devices being used to promote the T1. When it was just the Revvl, it could be assumed that Trump Mobile was just reskinning a device to sell, but the Samsung and iPhone devices throws a wrench in that.
There is little doubt that none of these poor Photoshop attempts are the actual T1. More likely, they are just a way to trick unwitting consumers into spending money on a device they believe is the Trump Mobile version of their favorite smartphone.
The T1 will not be an iPhone, not even close
The original Revvl device seemed to be the most likely simply because the Trump organization could take the $150 smartphone, paint it gold, and sell it for $500. However, promoting this device via the much more expensive Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, starting at $1,299, or the iPhone 16 Pro Max, starting at $1,199, qualifies as marketing lies.
Customers can already pre-order the T1 phone based on specs alone. It claims to have an OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 50MP camera, which are pretty standard specs in some Android devices — and identical to the Revvl phone in question.
Whatever customers will get when the T1 finally arrives, it won't be the flagship Apple or Samsung product by any stretch. It will almost certainly be a rebranded phone built in China and sold in America at a exorbitant premium.
Apple, an American company
It doesn't seem like the T1 will ever launch, and if it does, it'll be designed and made in China or South Korea, charitably.
When it does, Apple won't have to worry. The device will only attract the most Trump devout, and even then, some may pause given the device isn't exactly as patriotic as it is promoted to be.
Apple CEO Tim Cook still doing what he can to help American consumers. Image source: CNBC
Most of what is spent on Trump Mobile and the T1 goes into the Trump organization's coffers — some to licensing the MVNO Liberty Mobile, etc. Instead of promoting actual patriotism and helping American business, it promotes Trump, his family, his organization, and his wallet.
At least Americans know that buying Apple means buying American, truly. Apple is an American business through and through, and while iPhones are sourced from overseas, the profits they generate are directly benefiting American consumers and businesses.
For example, Apple has promised to invest an additional $100 billion into American industry over the next four years. So, when you buy an iPhone instead of a T1 Phone, know that you're actually supporting American business instead of a figurehead who's just licensed the name.
If you really want "American hands behind every device," buy an iPhone from Apple. Anything that Trump Mobile will sell is not that.
At least you know what the iPhone looks like and what it does when you pay for it.
