Latest news with #LibertyPhone
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
This phone is made in the USA, and Trump's name isn't on it
President Donald Trump's family business is taking preorders for a gold-colored smartphone, the T1. Trump Mobile, which launched Tuesday, says the device will be available in September, cost far less than Apple's and Samsung's smartphones — and be made in the United States, aligning with the president's "America First" economic ethos. Industry experts and tech journalists instantly cast doubt on those claims. And if Carlsbad, California-based smartphone maker Purism is any example, it would take much more than two months for Trump Mobile to build an American-made smartphone from scratch. It would also most likely be more expensive than the T1's advertised price of $499. At $2,000, Purism's Liberty Phone is more expensive than an iPhone 16 Pro. It has half the iPhone's memory with roughly twice the thickness. You also can't download many apps on it. According to Todd Weaver, who founded Purism in 2014, it's the only U.S.-made smartphone on the market. But with "kill switches" to turn off its Wi-Fi, camera and microphone, the Liberty Phone is marketed as a secure option because it also carries its own operating system designed by Purism. It took a lot of time and effort to get to that point, Weaver told NBC News. Going from "I would like to make a phone and I would like to make it in the U.S." to actually achieving it took six years, he said. Purism's assembly line consists of just four people screwing together phones by hand — a far cry from the shoulder-to-shoulder line of people and automated machinery often associated with mass production facilities in China. The "Made in the USA electronics" sticker that Purism slaps on the product is a declaration of confidence — since the Federal Trade Commission regulates claims of that sort. Yet even Purism's built-in-America phone needs some foreign help. Ninety percent of its materials come from the United States, Canada or Europe. Among the components made elsewhere: a chassis from China, camera modules from China or South Korea and a Bluetooth module from India. Purism publishes that information online. For materials like a specific crystal necessary for the motherboard to operate, Purism says there are no options for U.S. sourcing, meaning there's no choice but to buy from China. "There just isn't a company yet providing that single crystal," Weaver said. The Trump Organization didn't respond to questions about how Trump Mobile's T1 phone would be made. Another issue looming over the market: Trump's ever-shifting trade policies. He recently threatened a 25% tariff on all smartphone imports, taking aim at manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, which make their phones abroad. "Again, when they build their plant here, there's no tariff, so they're going to be building plants here," he said last month. The percentage of the materials for Purism's phone that come from overseas is small enough that tariffs from the Trump administration wouldn't affect its $2,000 price. But the tariffs would affect a phone Purism does make in China, called the Librem 5. It's priced at $800, but new import duties would take it closer to the Liberty phone's $2,000 level. While tariffs are a "good incentive" for manufacturing in the United States, Weaver said, the administration's on-again, off-again approach makes it tough to plan. "It's terrible," Weaver said. "If you have no idea and you can't predict [the policy], it's very hard for any company, for any business owner. From T-shirts, textiles to high tech, it is very hard to make a long-term business decision when you're in a whipsaw."
NBC News
a day ago
- Business
- NBC News
This phone is made in the USA, and Trump's name isn't on it
President Donald Trump's family business is taking preorders for a gold-colored smartphone, the T1. Trump Mobile, which launched Tuesday, says the device will be available in September, cost far less than Apple's and Samsung's smartphones — and be made in the United States, aligning with the president's 'America First' economic ethos. Industry experts and tech journalists instantly cast doubt on those claims. And if Carlsbad, California-based smartphone maker Purism is any example, it would take much more than two months for Trump Mobile to build an American-made smartphone from scratch. It would also likely be more expensive than the T1's advertised price of $499. At $2,000, Purism's Liberty Phone is more expensive than an iPhone 16 Pro. It has half the iPhone's memory with roughly twice the thickness. You also can't download many apps on it. According to Todd Weaver, who founded Purism in 2014, it's the only U.S.-made smartphone on the market. But with 'kill switches' to turn off its wi-fi, camera and microphone, the Liberty Phone is marketed as a secure option because it also carries its own operating system designed by Purism. It took a lot of time and effort to get to that point, Weaver told NBC News. Going from 'I would like to make a phone, and I would like to make it in the U.S.' to actually achieving it took six years, he said. Purism's assembly line consists of just four people screwing together phones by hand — a far cry from the shoulder-to-shoulder line of people and automated machinery often associated with mass production facilities in China. The 'Made in the USA electronics' sticker that Purism slaps on the product is a declaration of confidence — since the Federal Trade Commission regulates claims of that sort. Yet even Purism's built-in-America phone needs some foreign help. Ninety percent of the phone's materials come from the United States, Canada or Europe. Among the components made elsewhere: a chassis from China, camera modules from China or South Korea, and a bluetooth module from India. Purism publishes this information online. For materials like a specific crystal necessary for the motherboard to operate, Purism says there are no options for U.S. sourcing, meaning there's no choice but to buy from China. 'There just isn't a company yet providing that single crystal,' said Weaver. The Trump Organization didn't respond to NBC News' questions about how Trump Mobile's T1 phone would be made. Another issue looming over the market: Trump's ever-shifting trade policies. The president recently threatened a 25% tariff on all smartphone imports, taking aim at manufacturers like Apple and Samsung that make their phones abroad. 'Again, when they build their plant here, there's no tariff, so they're going to be building plants here,' the president said last month. The percentage of the materials for Purism's phone that come from overseas is small enough that tariffs from the Trump administration would not affect its $2,000 price. But the tariffs would affect a phone Purism does make in China, called the Librem 5. It's currently priced at $800 but new import duties would take it closer to the Liberty phone's $2,000 level. While tariffs are a 'good incentive' for manufacturing in the U.S., Weaver said, the on-again-off-again approach from the administration makes it tough to plan. 'It's terrible,' Weaver said. 'If you have no idea, and you can't predict [the policy], it's very hard for any company, for any business owner. From t-shirts, textiles, to high tech, it is very hard to make a long term business decision when you're in a whipsaw.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unless the Trump family secretly built a U.S. factory, industry experts say the $500 made-in-America smartphone is a fantasy
Donald Trump's family business is putting the president's name behind something that few have dared to produce in years: a made-in-America smartphone. The Trump Organization, led by the president's eldest sons, said on Monday that it has licensed Donald Trump's name to a new wireless service and a gold-colored phone. The T1, as the device is called, is supposed to be available in August for $499, and is 'proudly designed and built in the United States,' the company said in a statement. But the patriotic pitch drew immediate skepticism, and not just over President Trump trying to cash in again while in office. Several tech industry insiders questioned whether selling a made-in-America phone is even possible within just a few months, considering most electronics manufacturing is done overseas because of expensive domestic labor, a shortage of skilled workers, and a lack of suppliers. 'As someone who's spent over a decade building a secure, privacy-first smartphone, focusing on manufacturing in the U.S., and I can say this with confidence: Producing a fully U.S.-made phone isn't something you spin up overnight,' said Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, the only company currently producing a U.S.-made smartphone. 'If the Trump phone is promising a $499 price tag with domestic manufacturing, this announcement looks to be classic vaporware.' Purism's U.S.-made phone, the Liberty Phone, costs $650 to produce, according to Weaver, and retails for $2,000. The markup covers some of the additional administrative costs for security-conscious customers who want to verify the phone's supply chain, along with Purism's profit. The T1, in contrast, would retail for just a fraction of that price, raising questions about how such a U.S.-made device would be profitable. The Trump Organization didn't disclose which company will make the T1, or where it will be produced. It only gave some technical specifications, including that it will run on Google's Android operating system, come with a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition for unlocking, and have a 6.8-inch screen. The product page for the phone is also riddled with errors and omissions. It described the device as having a '5000mAh long life camera' (it should say 'battery,' an error that was subsequently fixed) and '12GB Ram storage' (RAM is generally referred to as memory, since any data stored in RAM is erased when the device is switched off), while neglecting to disclose an all-important piece of information: the kind of chips that will go into it. Wayne Lam, an analyst with TechInsights, said available information about the phone 'doesn't suggest it is a competitive phone design' compared with higher-end devices like Apple's iPhone. He called the specs for the T1 'underwhelming.' Manufacturing phones in the U.S., at least by major companies, is widely considered to be a lost cause. These days, their devices and components are almost entirely produced in Asia. Executives say U.S. manufacturing is too expensive in comparison, and that there aren't enough suppliers and skilled workers to get the job done. Even if a company wanted to try its luck, setting up manufacturing of a U.S.-made phone could take years—not just a few months. A business would need time to line up suppliers, recruit workers, and set up a production facility. Donald Trump's son Eric may have hinted at how the T1 will get around the problem. In an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, on The Benny Show, he indicated that, initially, the phone may be made overseas. 'Eventually all the phones will be built in the United States of America,' Eric said. 'We need to bring manufacturing back.' Of course, President Trump has made reshoring U.S. manufacturing a priority with his 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April and attacks on Apple for manufacturing its iPhones in Asia. Any imported T1 phones, or components, would, theoretically, be subject to his import levies. In addition to the phone, Trump will also give his name to a wireless service, called Trump Mobile, that will cost $47.45 monthly and come with up to 20 GB of data. The price is a not-so-subtle reference to his two terms as president. The Trump Organization did not say who it's partnering with on the wireless service or device, but tucked away in the website's terms of use is a reference to the service being powered by Liberty Mobile Wireless, itself a 'virtual' carrier that uses other companies' networks. Wireless coverage will come from the nation's three biggest wireless providers, the Trump Organization said. Ross Rubin, an analyst with Reticle Research, said Trump Mobile's wireless service is more expensive than comparable carrier plans, like T-Mobile's Metro and Verizon's Total, along with discount provider Boost Mobile. Plus, he said, some of those carriers will give new customers a free phone when they sign up. Weaver, of Purism, brought up one complication when it comes to the Trump Organization claiming a product is made in the USA. The Federal Trade Commission has strict rules that spell out when companies can and can't market a product as being homegrown. 'Unless the Trump family secretly built out a secure, onshore or nearshore fab operation over years of work without anyone noticing, it's simply not possible to deliver what they're promising,' Weaver said. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unless the Trump family secretly built a U.S. factory, industry experts say the $500 made-in-America smartphone is a fantasy
Donald Trump's family business is putting the president's name behind something that few have dared to produce in years: a made-in-America smartphone. The Trump Organization, led by the president's eldest sons, said on Monday that it has licensed Donald Trump's name to a new wireless service and a gold-colored phone. The T1, as the device is called, is supposed to be available in August for $499, and is 'proudly designed and built in the United States,' the company said in a statement. But the patriotic pitch drew immediate skepticism, and not just over President Trump trying to cash in again while in office. Several tech industry insiders questioned whether selling a made-in-America phone is even possible within just a few months, considering most electronics manufacturing is done overseas because of expensive domestic labor, a shortage of skilled workers, and a lack of suppliers. 'As someone who's spent over a decade building a secure, privacy-first smartphone, focusing on manufacturing in the U.S., and I can say this with confidence: Producing a fully U.S.-made phone isn't something you spin up overnight,' said Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, the only company currently producing a U.S.-made smartphone. 'If the Trump phone is promising a $499 price tag with domestic manufacturing, this announcement looks to be classic vaporware.' Purism's U.S.-made phone, the Liberty Phone, costs $650 to produce, according to Weaver, and retails for $2,000. The markup covers some of the additional administrative costs for security-conscious customers who want to verify the phone's supply chain, along with Purism's profit. The T1, in contrast, would retail for just a fraction of that price, raising questions about how such a U.S.-made device would be profitable. The Trump Organization didn't disclose which company will make the T1, or where it will be produced. It only gave some technical specifications, including that it will run on Google's Android operating system, come with a fingerprint sensor and facial recognition for unlocking, and have a 6.8-inch screen. The product page for the phone is also riddled with errors and omissions. It described the device as having a '5000mAh long life camera' (it should say 'battery,' an error that was subsequently fixed) and '12GB Ram storage' (RAM is generally referred to as memory, since any data stored in RAM is erased when the device is switched off), while neglecting to disclose an all-important piece of information: the kind of chips that will go into it. Wayne Lam, an analyst with TechInsights, said available information about the phone 'doesn't suggest it is a competitive phone design' compared with higher-end devices like Apple's iPhone. He called the specs for the T1 'underwhelming.' Manufacturing phones in the U.S., at least by major companies, is widely considered to be a lost cause. These days, their devices and components are almost entirely produced in Asia. Executives say U.S. manufacturing is too expensive in comparison, and that there aren't enough suppliers and skilled workers to get the job done. Even if a company wanted to try its luck, setting up manufacturing of a U.S.-made phone could take years—not just a few months. A business would need time to line up suppliers, recruit workers, and set up a production facility. Donald Trump's son Eric may have hinted at how the T1 will get around the problem. In an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, on The Benny Show, he indicated that, initially, the phone may be made overseas. 'Eventually all the phones will be built in the United States of America,' Eric said. 'We need to bring manufacturing back.' Of course, President Trump has made reshoring U.S. manufacturing a priority with his 'Liberation Day' tariffs in April and attacks on Apple for manufacturing its iPhones in Asia. Any imported T1 phones, or components, would, theoretically, be subject to his import levies. In addition to the phone, Trump will also give his name to a wireless service, called Trump Mobile, that will cost $47.45 monthly and come with up to 20 GB of data. The price is a not-so-subtle reference to his two terms as president. The Trump Organization did not say who it's partnering with on the wireless service or device, but tucked away in the website's terms of use is a reference to the service being powered by Liberty Mobile Wireless, itself a 'virtual' carrier that uses other companies' networks. Wireless coverage will come from the nation's three biggest wireless providers, the Trump Organization said. Ross Rubin, an analyst with Reticle Research, said Trump Mobile's wireless service is more expensive than comparable carrier plans, like T-Mobile's Metro and Verizon's Total, along with discount provider Boost Mobile. Plus, he said, some of those carriers will give new customers a free phone when they sign up. Weaver, of Purism, brought up one complication when it comes to the Trump Organization claiming a product is made in the USA. The Federal Trade Commission has strict rules that spell out when companies can and can't market a product as being homegrown. 'Unless the Trump family secretly built out a secure, onshore or nearshore fab operation over years of work without anyone noticing, it's simply not possible to deliver what they're promising,' Weaver said. This story was originally featured on
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Trumps Accused of Sourcing 'T1 Phone' From China Despite 'Built in the US' Claim: 'It's Simply Not Possible'
The Trump Organization unveiled its new T1 smartphone under the Trump Mobile brand, a device that claims to be "proudly designed and built in the United States." However, analysts say the T1 bears a striking resemblance to Chinese-made phones already on the market, and could not have been domestically manufactured within the given timeframe. "It's simply not possible," said Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism, one of the only companies to manufacture phones in the U.S. Speaking to CNN, Weaver added that the Trump family has not invested in the kind of fabrication infrastructure required to build a phone domestically. "There are only realistically four or five smartphone [manufacturers] that could make this, and all of them are based out of China," tech analyst Max Weinbach told CNN. Even Purism, which sells a $1,999 U.S.-assembled "Liberty Phone," admits it sources some components from abroad due to global supply chain limitations. "Just to manufacture a phone in the U.S. with the chipsets you're actually a massive undertaking," Weaver added, noting the stringent FTC guidelines required to claim "Made in the USA." A TikTok video from tech creator Luke Miani was also dubious of the claims on Trump Mobile's website. He went through the website, highlighting basic errors in the spec sheet. "'Storage: 12GB of RAM.' That's not what storage is... '5,000mAh hour long life camera.' That? Okay. That's not how cameras work at all." "I'm not going to suggest that they just went on to AliExpress and bought a phone," he said sarcastically, going to the website that listed the exact same specs. "They definitely did not just buy something almost exactly like this and mark it up ten times." Weinbach identified the T1's specs—including its 6.8-inch display, triple camera setup, 5,000mAh battery, and even its headphone jack—as matching that of existing phones like the Revvl 7 Pro 5G, produced by China-based Wingtech. Another nearly identical device, the Vtex Smart Phone, is sold on President Donald Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on smartphones made overseas and pressured companies like Apple to shift production to the U.S. Although Don Jr. and Eric Trump have insisted their father is not involved in the Trump Organization, Trump Mobile's "Made in the USA" claim echoes the president's push to bring tech manufacturing back to the U.S. soil. But industry experts say a September 2025 U.S. launch for a truly domestic smartphone remains infeasible. "The majority of any phone sold this fall will not be made in the U.S.," said Ryan Reith of IDC. "That's a given." While no direct link to overseas manufacturers have been confirmed, skepticism of the phone's origins remain high. Eric Trump fueled existing doubt on Monday when he said, "Eventually all the Trump phones will be built in the USA" on a podcast, contradicting the website and formal announcement that explicitly stated "Made in the USA." The admission didn't get past Miani. "According to the Trump Organization, these phones will ' eventually ' be made in America, even though no phone in the entire world currently is," Miani said on TikTok, his voice still laced in sarcasm. "So I believe them. I believe all of that." Originally published on Latin Times
