It’s been a long, strange journey for this device, but with a major World Cup match ahead of me, I decided there was no better way to spend my first 24 hours with it than putting it to the test. To summarize, the Trump Phone T1 is an Android phone marketed online that runs on Trump Mobile, with monthly plans beginning at $47.45. I took the opportunity during the Ecuador vs. Germany World Cup event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to see what exactly what this device can do. Here’s what I found out.
It’s iridescent
When I take the T1 out of its box, I have to admit that the design immediately draws attention, and it’s not just because the incorrect American flag is stamped on the rear.
The rear panel is highly iridescent, changing and shimmering when exposed to light at the proper angle. Whatever you think of the branding, this finish keeps things interesting. The shimmer immediately piqued the interest of fans I handed it to at the match. If it were anything else, it would be completely forgettable.
A blast from the past
You’re undoubtedly already know that the Trump Phone T1 is purportedly a disguised HTC U24 Pro. Even though I haven’t used that particular phone, the overall appearance suggests that the T1’s design is a few generations older.
It features an AMOLED screen with curved edges and chamfered metallic trim, which immediately reminds me of the Galaxy S6 Edge from 2015. If that wasn’t enough to indicate its age, another individual I handed the phone to was astonished to see a 3.5mm headphone port.
Generous 512GB of storage
For the pricing, I believe the Trump Phone T1 is overpriced, especially given the outdated Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. However, the biggest surprise for me while taking images and videos at the World Cup play was that it has 512GB of storage. That’s a lot of capacity for a phone in this price range, so I didn’t have to rely as much on cloud storage as I normally would.
Security risk alert out of the box
Ironically, one of the first things I saw after booting the T1 was a system alert warning that the device was in danger. That is the last thing anyone wants to see right out of the box, but a short software update resolved the immediate issue.
Nonetheless, the alarm highlights a larger concern about software support, which lacks the clear plan I see from key manufacturers. The phone ships with Android 15, which is telling.
After implementing the initial patch, which resolved my security warnings, I was unable to find any more updates over the air. That raises a serious concern about the device’s future: who knows if or when it will see Android 16, let alone Android 17?
4K video clips are shaky
What I value most in a smartphone is dependable camera performance. Unfortunately, after capturing images and videos at the World Cup, I was not impressed with the Trump Phone T1.
The most noticeable fault was how unsteady the footage appeared when recorded in 4K, which was exacerbated when I employed the digital zoom. You can see what I mean in the video above, but the difference between it and a similar clip I filmed on my iPhone 17 Pro is night and day.
It was difficult to assess the quality of its cameras, which include a 50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto, and 50MP selfie. Because the lighting circumstances were ideal at the World Cup match, the images are acceptable by my standards, but I wouldn’t go so far as to claim they’re exceptional.
No cool wallpapers
At halftime, I was scrolling through the T1 and noticed how basic the default Trump Mobile wallpaper on my home screen was. Given the name, I expected a few spectacular wallpapers, possibly even some stylish, AI-generated selections, but that was not the case. You only get one; the others are up to you to find.
Second, the phone is preinstalled with two specific apps: Truth Social and Doctegrity. While some purchasers may prefer the former, I already use far too many social networks and don’t need another platform to handle.
A better alternative (for half the price)
I can think of a few other phones that are worth more of my hard-earned money, but if you want to spend $499 on a smartphone, there is a much better option. The $249 Nuu B40 5G is similar to the Trump Phone T1, but costs half as much. It even has very identical aesthetics, and it has a second display on the back that is really useful for framing selfies and vlogging.
Furthermore, rather of committing to a $47.45 monthly charge with Trump Mobile, you can save far more by pairing an unlocked device with carriers such as Visible, Mint Mobile, or Total Wireless.
Flashy appearance can only take a phone so far before it starts to fade. There are definitely numerous reasons why I would not advocate purchasing the Trump Phone T1 after 24 hours of use, but the fact that you are essentially purchasing two-year-old hardware doesn’t help.
Unless you’re purchasing this device just as a novelty item, your money is better spent elsewhere. Skip the T1 in favor of a cheaper challenger that stresses practical daily performance above branding.
