iFixit has confirmed that the Trump T1 Phone is essentially a rebranded HTC U24 Pro. The teardown, done in partnership with NBC, shows the two phones are functionally identical with only minor differences in battery and memory chip supplier.
iFixit, the renowned repair advocacy group, has confirmed that the Trump T1 Phone is an almost exact duplicate of the HTC U24 Pro. In a teardown conducted in partnership with NBC, iFixit obtained both devices and subjected them to CT scans, component-level disassembly, and even swapped parts to create a functional hybrid phone.
Key Points
- Trump T1 Phone and HTC U24 Pro are functionally identical, sharing the same chassis design and specifications.
- Minor differences include a slightly moved flash, tweaked speaker grille, and different memory chip suppliers: Micron for Trump phone, SK Hynix for HTC.
- The Trump phone has a slightly larger battery made in the Philippines, supporting slower 30W charging, compared to HTC's battery from China.
- HTC has stated it does not design or manufacture phones for third parties, but the U24 Pro was likely made by a third-party contractor in China.
The teardown confirms earlier reports that the T1 Phone matches the U24 Pro, given their shared distinctive chassis, headphone jack, microSD card slot, and nearly identical specs. iFixit's work solidifies these findings.
HTC previously told The Verge that it “does not design or manufacture phones for third parties,” but declined to provide details about the U24 Pro's manufacturing. Since HTC sold most of its smartphone business to Google in 2017, it likely contracted a third-party company to design and manufacture the U24 Pro. Trump Mobile apparently turned to the same company for its T1 Phone.
The U24 Pro was made in China, raising questions about where the Trump phone is manufactured. The battery in the Trump phone is made in the Philippines, suggesting a different supply chain for that component.