Completely Impossible ..., say analysts on claims that Donald Trump's T1 smartphone will be made in America; add: Where are ...

Time of India

4 hours ago

The Trump Organization says that the entire device, which costs $499 is assembled in the US, but there is no information on when it will hit stores.
Earlier this week, the Trump Organization, owned by the US President Donald Trump, announced the launch of the T1, a gold-colored smartphone priced at $499. The smartphone, which will run on Google's Android operating system, is being promoted as 'built in the United States.' However, industry experts have cast doubt on these claims, suggesting the phone is likely designed and manufactured by a Chinese company. The announcement comes as President Trump has intensified scrutiny on global smartphone supply chains, particularly targeting companies like Apple to move manufacturing to the U.S. amid threats of tariffs on imported devices.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at International Data Corp. told CNBC that it is 'completely impossible' for the T1 to be fully designed and manufactured in the U.S. He and other analysts, including Blake Przesmicki of Counterpoint Research, believe the phone is likely produced by a Chinese original device manufacturer (ODM), which designs and builds products to the specifications of other companies. Jeff Fieldhack, research director at Counterpoint, added that the U.S. lacks readily available local manufacturing capabilities for smartphones.
Experts also warn that the US-based smartphone production would be a costly and time-intensive endeavor, likely increasing prices significantly.
How and where to get the components
The T1's specifications further highlight its reliance on global supply chains. The device features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, likely sourced from South Korean companies Samsung or LG, or Chinese manufacturer BOE. Its 50-megapixel camera is expected to use image sensors from Japan's Sony, a dominant player in the market. The phone's processor is likely to come from Taiwan's MediaTek or Qualcomm, with manufacturing based in Taiwan. While US-based Micron could supply memory components, other suppliers like Samsung may also be involved.
'Even with local manufacturing, the T1 will rely on imported components,' Fieldhack noted, underscoring the global nature of smartphone production.