Trump surprised (or maybe not) everyone with the launch of Trump Mobile, followed by the announcement of plans to launch the Trump Mobile T1 smartphone. It was a smartphone that was supposedly going to be made in the US. However, fast forward to today, despite taking $100 deposits from buyers, the phone is nowhere in sight, but that’s not all. Now, it turns out, Trump Mobile has plans to create an “Ultra” version of the phone as well .
Trump Mobile “Ultra” phone incoming
It turns out the Trump Mobile “Ultra” phone isn’t actually new per se. It’s new in the sense that it will be a new product, but it was actually hinted at last year. During an interview with Wireless Dealer Magazine , Trump Mobile executive Don Hendrickson was quoted as saying, “We’re focused on evolving with our customers by offering even more powerful tools that fit their lives. Our next major step is the launch of the T1 Ultra—a premium device that builds on the success of the original T1 with enhanced performance, upgraded features, and the same bold, American-proud design.”
We get it. Among Android phones , there are different tiers. There is the base model, followed by a Plus variant, and then a Pro variant. But we’re also seeing more phone makers adopt the “Ultra” moniker to describe their top-of-the-line models. This includes Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, Honor, and so on.
But the issue has less to do with naming. It has more to do with the fact that the original T1 hasn’t even been released yet .
Where is the T1?
The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone was announced around June last year . It was supposed to ship that year, but to date, we still have no idea when it will be released. So much so that Democratic lawmakers have called on the FTC to investigate the issue . Customers who wanted the phone were required to put down a $100 deposit, but with no delivery date in sight, it’s starting to feel like vaporware. Now, there’s even an “Ultra” variant? How about the company delivering what was promised first before talking about other models?
The interview also saw Hendrickson proudly describe the T1 as having an “American-proud design.” This is a stark contrast to Trump Mobile’s boasts about it being made in America. This “American” design language sounds similar to those used by companies like Apple, who happily slap on a “Designed by Apple in California,” which is true. However, the products themselves are made in countries like China, Vietnam, India, and so on.
