GoKawiilPatrick Holland/CNET
The Trump phone finally arrived at CNET's office in San Francisco last week, almost a year after its announcement and nine months after its planned launch.
Trump Mobile debuted in June 2025 with a $47.45-a-month mobile phone plan, and it announced that the Trump Mobile T1, would be made in the US and launch in August 2025. But when it became obvious that domestic large-scale smartphone manufacturing would not be possible, Trump Mobile dropped the "made in the US" claim and delayed the launch.
CNET had placed a preorder with a $100 deposit for the Trump phone in June 2025, and it's worth noting that Trump Mobile expedited our shipment so we could review the T1. (Most phone companies set aside review units for journalists, but Trump Mobile hasn't done this.) It's unclear whether people who placed a preorder and aren't members of the media have received their phones yet, and Trump Mobile hasn't responded to a request for comment on this.
Last month, a redesigned Trump Mobile website showcased a new-look T1 phone, its third redesign, following Trump Mobile executives showing off a handset to The Verge in early February. The Android phone was delayed due to production issues, the company said earlier this month, when it confirmed the handset would begin shipping to customers.
"The technology business is more difficult than some may realize, as parts must be tested for quality assurances," Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien said in a statement to CNET. "We have experienced delays during a variety of steps in getting the T1 to completion, but those delays were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product."
Over the Memorial Day weekend, I tested the phone in a real-world environment, using it as my main phone. I live-blogged my experiences as I went, updating with anecdotes and the results of all tests I ran. Read below for more Trump phone details.