Review pans Trump Mobile’s $499 T1 as sales begin
The Verge said the T1 exists and has useful ports, but its reviewer criticized nearly every other part of the gold Android phone.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Trump Mobile’s T1 phone is now being sold for $499, and one of the first published reviews gives buyers little reason to expect a polished device. The Verge’s Dominic Preston said he used the phone for a week and rated it a 3 on the publication’s review scale.
The review matters because the T1 has moved from promotional images and shifting launch timing into customers’ hands. According to The Verge, some buyers have received the handset, though others still appear to be waiting.
Preston wrote that the T1 is a real product, but he described it as unserious as a smartphone. The Verge listed the model reviewed as the T1 Phone 8002 in a gold version.
A bumpy path to launch
The Verge reported that Trump Mobile announced the phone last June with renders and a spec sheet the publication described as unclear. Two weeks after that announcement, according to The Verge, Trump Mobile acknowledged that the handset would not be manufactured in the United States.
The phone later appeared in more complete form, first during a February video call with The Verge and then in April in a short commercial, the publication reported. The device is now beyond what The Verge described as changing release dates and is available for purchase through Trump Mobile.
What the review found
The Verge’s review credited the T1 with a few practical features. Preston noted that the phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot and software that is close to stock Android.
The publication’s positives list was brief:
- The phone exists as a shipping product, according to The Verge.
- It has a headphone jack.
- It has expandable storage through microSD.
- It largely runs stock Android, according to the review.
The negatives were much broader. The Verge summarized the downside as “almost everything else,” and Preston’s early review notes focused heavily on the hardware design.
Preston described the T1 as a thin, light phone with a curved body and a gold plastic finish. He said the finish looked more yellow under some lighting, reflected light noticeably and felt unpleasant because of its tacky texture.
The review also said the unit The Verge received had a small scratch near the upper-right corner. Preston criticized the curved waterfall display, saying it made the device feel dated.
The Verge did not present the T1 as a competitive midrange recommendation. Its review instead framed the phone as a product that has finally reached the market after months of questions, while falling short in design and overall execution.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.