How does the Trump T1 phone compare to the iPhone 16?

The Trump family is entering the smartphone business. On Monday, the Trump Organization announced the September launch of Trump Mobile and the T1 smartphone — a $499, Android-based device. A Trump Mobile press release describes the phone as “sleek” and “American-made.”

Trump Mobile itself appears to be a licensing deal built on the back of Liberty Mobile, a "freedom-focused" mobile virtual network operator. (The Trump Mobile terms of use say the company is "powered by Liberty Mobile Wireless.") MVNOs are carriers, like Boost or Mint, that don't own any telecommunications infrastructure — instead piggybacking off networks like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Trump Mobile says it will also provide extra perks to customers such as access to roadside assistance and telehealth services.

Unveiled by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower on Monday — marking 10 years since their father announced his 2016 campaign — Trump Mobile is another entry in the Trump Organization’s white labeling enterprise. Like meme coins, shoes, and steaks before it, this one banks on the enduring value of their dad's name.

Donald Trump has long pressured Apple CEO Tim Cook to bring iPhone production to the US, a move that analysts say could push the iPhone’s retail price as high as $3,000. Now, the Trump camp is selling its own "Made in America" phone to supporters who care where their devices come from. How it plans to pull off this manufacturing feat, we don't know.

So, how would the T1 compare to the base model iPhone 16?

The Trump Mobile T1 vs. Apple iPhone 16

Because no one has actually seen a T1 phone, we're relying entirely on Trump Mobile's promised specs for this comparison. The T1's specs fall firmly in mid-tier territory.

• 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage

• A 6.8-inch AMOLED screen

• R120Hz refresh rate (with no listed resolution)

• 50MP main camera, two 2MP auxiliary cameras

• 16MP selfie camera

• 5000mAh battery

• Fingerprint sensor and AI face unlock

• Processor: Unknown

We have to note that the omission of the processor that powers the Trump Mobile T1 phone is very unusual.

For comparison, here are the key iPhone 16 specs:

• 8GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage

• 48MP main camera, two 12MP auxiliary cameras

• 12MP selfie camera

• 6.1‑inch OLED display

• Up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness

• 60Hz refresh rate (2,556 x 1,179 resolution)

• 3,500 mAh battery (up to 22 hours of video playback)

• Face ID

• A18 Bionic chip

How does the T1 compare to other smartphones?

The Google Pixel 9a, widely praised as the best value in Android phones this year, costs the same as the T1 and runs on Google's custom Tensor chip. The T1’s pricing also mirrors that of the now-infamous Freedom Phone, a 2021 MAGA-branded device that turned out to be a rebranded budget handset from China.

The iPhone 16, Apple’s latest flagship, starts at $799. For that price, you're getting Apple’s A18 chip — one of the most powerful mobile chipsets on the market.

But let’s get granular. Compare the Trump T1 to Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone 16e, which costs $599, just $100 more. The 16e offers 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, the same A18 chip (with a 4-core GPU), and a 6.1-inch display.

Trump's fans could argue that the Trump Mobile carrier plan is the real draw, since it works with any unlocked phone. However, at $47.45 per month (a nod to Trump being both the 45th and 47th president), the plan costs about twice as much as comparable offerings from MVNOs like Boost or Mint Mobile. Liberty Mobile, the MVNO powering Trump Mobile, offers nearly identical plans for $20 per month elsewhere.

At that price point, you might just be paying for the branding.

Lastly, we have yet to hear any details on the T1 phone beyond what's been posted to Trump Mobile. The processor omission is a potential red flag, as is the fact that the only other made-in-America phone we're aware of, the Librem 5 USA, is priced at $1,599.