Is the Trump T1 Just an HTC Phone Painted Gold?

Beneath the gold paint lies a two-year-old HTC phone. CNET's review of the so-called Trump T1 has confirmed iFixit's initial suspicion: this $1,000 'luxury' smartphone is almost certainly a rebadged HTC U24 Pro, repainted and sold under the former president's name. CNET published its findings on [date not specified], after hands-on testing revealed identical hardware specs, software build numbers, and even the same HTC-branded charging port. The device, marketed as the Trump T1, first surfaced in early 2025 via a website promising 'American greatness in your pocket.' But teardowns quickly showed it was the same 2023 HTC U24 Pro under the hood. iFixit had already flagged the suspicion; CNET's review provided the definitive confirmation. Key details include an identical Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, and a 108 MP main camera — all matching the HTC U24 Pro. The only visible difference is the gold coating and a Trump branding logo on the back. No software changes were found, and the phone still carries HTC's firmware. Analysis from industry observers suggests this is a licensing deal where HTC offloads old inventory while Trump's team adds a markup. The move raises questions about the target audience: loyalists willing to pay a premium for a symbol rather than a superior product. The Trump T1 phone may succeed as a collector's item, but as a smartphone, it offers 2023 performance at a 2025 flagship price. Looking ahead, consumers and regulators may scrutinize such rebranding practices more closely, especially if more celebrities follow the same playbook. Expect no updates to the hardware, only potential legal questions about deceptive marketing.