NEW YORK, Feb 9, 2026, 01:37 EST
- The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone is set to be mostly manufactured abroad, with final assembly happening on a limited scale in Miami.
- The device’s specs and design have changed, the launch date has slipped once more, and prices for new customers are expected to climb.
- U.S. regulations for “Made in USA” labels are strict, putting the spotlight on both wording and sourcing in how the phone is marketed.
The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone, initially marketed with a “Made in the United States” label, will mostly be manufactured abroad, with only a small portion of final assembly happening in the U.S., company insiders told a report. (Times of India)
This shift is significant today as the phone is marketed with patriotic branding. “Made in USA” isn’t just a catchy phrase here; it carries legal weight. Backing that claim is tough when your smartphone’s parts come from Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
The Federal Trade Commission states that an unqualified “Made in USA” label generally means the product is “all or virtually all” made in the United States, allowing minimal to no imported components or foreign assembly. (FTC)
Trump Mobile executives Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas told The Verge that the phones undergo “final assembly” in Miami, even though the bulk of the manufacturing happens overseas. They didn’t specify the country, only referring to it as a “favored nation.” Thomas explained that the vague wording was chosen to “be upfront and not misleading.” (The Verge)
The Verge noted that the near-final device shown in a video call ditched the rear “T1” logo but retained its gold finish and American flag motif. The camera setup moved away from the iPhone-style triangle to a vertical, oval-shaped module.
The spec sheet shifted too. It suggests a bigger screen, roughly 6.8 inches, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series processor. Storage hits 512GB, expandable via microSD up to 1TB. Camera-wise, both the front and main rear shooters are said to pack 50-megapixel sensors, though the full camera specs remain unverified.
Pricing is shifting as well. Hendrickson mentioned that early adopters who put down a $100 deposit will still pay $499 in total, now called an “introductory price.” Those who buy later can expect to pay more, though the executives only promised it would be “less than $1,000.”
The timing is still up in the air. The phone has passed the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approval, a must for wireless devices before they hit the market, and now it’s waiting on carrier certification with T-Mobile. This step tests if the phone performs reliably on the carrier’s network, the report noted.
The Verge matched the headline specs against upper-midrange Android phones, spotting similar storage and camera setups in models like OnePlus’ Nord series. Executives, however, claimed the updated version would compete with higher-end devices.
The new plan still leaves several key questions unanswered. Trump Mobile hasn’t revealed where the bulk of assembly will take place, nor has it finalized a retail price for new customers. Details on features like waterproofing or wireless charging—often what distinguish premium phones from midrange models—remain unconfirmed.
Other sources like PCMag and GSMArena have also covered the evolving manufacturing details and the updates in design and specs of the T1 device. (PCMag) (GSMArena)
The phone was initially announced in June 2025 but has slipped past several launch dates, including an original late summer target and a later goal set for the end of 2025, according to reports. In the Verge interview, executives pointed to the decision to bypass the “first initial entry-level phone” in favor of launching a more advanced model as a key reason for the delay.
While the company stepped back from “Made in USA,” it didn’t drop the concept entirely. According to The Verge, executives called full U.S. assembly a “goal” for upcoming models down the line.
