Trump Mobile starts shipping $499 T1 smartphones after delays

Trump Mobile said May 13, 2026, it has begun shipping its delayed $499 T1 smartphones to customers, after pushing back the gold-colored device from its original August 2025 release to October 2025 and then to the week of May 11, 2026. CEO Pat O’Brien told Reuters that preordered phones are being delivered this week after additional development and testing. The company did not disclose preorder or shipment volumes, citing competitive reasons, but said it expects to fulfill outstanding orders by late May or June 2026. The T1 features a 6.78-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, triple-camera system, 5,000 mAh battery and Android operating system. Trump Mobile, launched in June 2025 by the Trump Organization under a trademark licensing deal, operates as a mobile virtual network operator with a $47.45 monthly plan. The venture has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts, lawmakers and analysts over potential conflicts of interest and claims about U.S. assembly.