iFixit teardown confirms Trump T1 phone is HTC U24 Pro duplicate

Hardware analysis firm iFixit has confirmed that the Trump Mobile T1 Phone is an almost exact duplicate of the HTC U24 Pro. Following a comprehensive teardown and CT scan, the firm found the devices to be functionally identical, with only minor physical differences in the flash position, speaker grille design, chipset supplier, and battery origin.

The investigation began after iFixit partnered with NBC to obtain media samples of both the Trump phone and the U24 Pro. Technicians ran the devices through a CT scanner and disassembled them to parts. To prove functional equivalence, they constructed a "Frankenstein" phone by placing the U24 Pro’s internal board inside the Trump phone’s chassis, which operated without issue.

While the core functionality is the same, there are distinct component variations. The Trump phone features a slightly larger battery manufactured in the Philippines, compared to the U24 Pro’s Chinese-made cell. The Trump device also supports slower 30W charging. Internally, the chipset package differs in supplier, with Micron providing the component for the Trump phone and SK Hynix for the HTC model.

Initial suspicions regarding the similarity between the two devices arose from their distinctive chassis design, identical specifications, and matching peripheral ports, including headphone jacks and microSD card slots. The physical teardown and imaging have now substantiated these early observations.

HTC has previously stated that it "does not design or manufacture phones for third parties," although it declined to confirm specific manufacturing details for the U24 Pro. Given that HTC sold most of its smartphone business to Google in 2017, industry analysis suggests the U24 Pro was likely designed and manufactured by a third-party contractor. The evidence implies that Trump Mobile engaged the same manufacturer for the T1 Phone. The specific identity of this third-party company remains unconfirmed.