The Trump Organization recently unveiled the T1 smartphone, which it claims will be “built in the United States” and priced at $499. However, experts suggest that the phone is likely to be designed and manufactured by a Chinese company, casting doubt on its American-made claims. Francisco Jeronimo from International Data Corp. stated that it is improbable for the T1 to be entirely manufactured or assembled in the U.S. A similar sentiment was echoed by Blake Przesmicki of Counterpoint Research, who indicated that a Chinese original device manufacturer (ODM) would probably produce the device.
The interest in U.S.-made smartphones has intensified, particularly amid President Trump’s focus on import tariffs and encouraging American production, especially for companies like Apple. However, experts believe that manufacturing devices like the iPhone in the U.S. is not feasible and would significantly inflate retail prices.
Regarding components, smartphones rely on a global supply chain. The T1’s display is expected to be sourced from South Korean companies like Samsung and LG, and the processor may come from Taiwan’s MediaTek. The phone’s 50-megapixel camera is likely to be produced using Sony’s image sensing technology, while its memory could potentially include U.S.-made components from Micron. Still, many necessary parts would be imported.
Experts emphasize that even if some components were manufactured in the U.S., a substantial portion would still require international sourcing. The Trump Organization has not commented on these analyses, leaving many questions about the T1’s true manufacturing origin and complexity of its supply chain.
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