After acquiring and disassembling a Trump phone, iFixit has validated my earlier February report: the T1 Phone mirrors the HTC U24 Pro almost exactly.
Collaborating with NBC, iFixit obtained a media sample of the Trump phone as well as a U24 Pro. They meticulously scanned both phones via CT, deconstructed them, and even assembled a hybrid device using the U24 Pro’s circuitry within the T1 Phone’s exterior. This process confirmed the two phones are essentially indistinguishable in functionality.
Some slight variations exist: the flash has been repositioned, the speaker grille adjusted, and while the chipset specifications are identical, the Trump phone uses components from Micron, whereas HTC opts for SK Hynix. A notable difference is the battery: the Trump phone features a slightly larger cell, manufactured in the Philippines instead of China, but charges more slowly at 30W.
It has long been suspected that the T1 Phone and U24 Pro were akin, as they boast a similar design, nearly identical technical specifications, and corresponding headphone jacks and microSD slots. iFixit’s analysis has effectively confirmed these assumptions.
HTC previously informed The Verge that it “does not design or manufacture phones for third parties,” although it refrained from detailing the U24 Pro’s production specifics. Since HTC divested much of its smartphone division to Google in 2017, it is plausible that a third-party company was tasked with the U24 Pro’s design and production, and that Trump Mobile utilized the same entity for the T1 Phone. As reported last week, the U24 Pro was assembled in China, leaving one to wonder about the origins of the Trump phone.
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