5 Android phones you should buy instead of Trump’s T1 Phone

There’s a brand new Android telephone on the block, and it’s an … attention-grabbing one. On June 16, the Trump Group introduced the T1 Phone. It’s an Android telephone a part of the brand new Trump Cell model, described as a “glossy, gold smartphone engineered for efficiency and proudly designed and in-built the USA.”

In actuality, the T1 Cellphone appears like a little bit of a large number. Past the gaudy brushed gold design, the specs aren’t something to jot down dwelling about. There’s a 6.8-inch AMOLED show (with an unknown decision), a 5,000mAh battery, 20W “quick charging,” and a 50MP main digital camera that’s paired with a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens. And that’s to not point out that the T1 is nearly definitely manufactured abroad, regardless of the declare that it’s made within the US.

Trump’s T1 Cellphone is about to launch in August for $499 (with a down cost of $100), and if even a small a part of you is considering shopping for it, let me cease you proper there. Relatively than Trump’s new telephone, listed here are 5 different Android telephones you should purchase as an alternative.

Maybe the perfect different to the Trump telephone is the Google Pixel 9a. It has the identical $499 price ticket but is objectively higher than the T1 Cellphone in nearly each conceivable method.

Specs-wise, there’s no competitors right here. It’s onerous to gauge how performant the T1 is with out understanding its chipset, however the Tensor G4 chip within the Pixel 9a is nearly definitely higher than Trump’s handset. There’s additionally a bigger 5,100 mAh battery, 23W wired and seven.5W wi-fi charging, and a 48MP main digital camera + 13MP ultrawide digital camera combo that’s certain to place the T1’s digital camera setup to disgrace.

The software program expertise can be quite a bit higher on the Pixel 9a. The T1 Cellphone ships with Android 15 and has no official replace coverage for the variety of Android OS upgrades or safety patches it’ll obtain sooner or later. The Pixel 9a, in the meantime, is already working Android 16 and can preserve getting updates by way of 2032. Plus, when you don’t like the thought of getting your telephone tied so intently to Google, you’ll be able to all the time set up Graphene OS on the Pixel 9a, stopping Google from gathering a lot of your private information.

There have been some latest considerations about Google Pixel phones and battery swelling issues, but when after-sales assist is a priority for you, Google handily wins right here. Google has a confirmed monitor document for taking good care of any points as they pop up, and you’ll all the time prolong the default one-year guarantee with Google’s Most well-liked Care insurance coverage plan. Comparatively, we do not know how Trump Cell will deal with this kind of factor.

The Google Pixel 9a is considered one of our favourite Android telephones of the 12 months, and if in case you have a price range of $500, it truly is the perfect telephone you should buy at this worth.

In case you have a bit bit extra to spend and aren’t thrilled with the Pixel 9a for no matter cause, one other nice choice to think about is the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. The S24 FE usually retails for $650, however you’ll be able to at present buy it for simply $525, which is an unimaginable worth for every part it gives.

The place Trump’s T1 Cellphone has a show with a thriller decision, which may very well be wonderful or whole rubbish, we all know the Galaxy S24 FE has an impressive show. The 6.7-inch measurement is bigger than the Pixel 9a and just like the T1 Cellphone. With an AMOLED panel, 1080 x 2340 decision, 120Hz refresh price, and 1,900 nits of brightness, the S24 FE’s display is among the greatest in its class. It additionally has wonderful efficiency, good battery life, and a robust digital camera setup — consisting of a 50MP main digital camera, 8MP telephoto digital camera, and 12MP ultrawide digital camera. The Pixel 9a is a extra dependable general digital camera telephone, however the Galaxy S24 FE continues to be far more succesful than what you’ll get with Trump’s smartphone.

Like Google, Samsung additionally delivers on the software program entrance. The Galaxy S24 FE at present runs Android 15 and can proceed to obtain Android updates and vital safety patches by way of 2031. There are additionally ample AI options as a part of Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite.

The Pixel 9a is the higher selection if digital camera high quality is your primary concern (and when you desire a smaller telephone), however if you need a giant show, snappy efficiency, and many AI options, the Galaxy S24 FE is a straightforward suggestion — and nicely price an additional $25 over the T1 Cellphone.

Google and Samsung would be the two most outstanding names within the Android world, however Motorola has a giant presence, too. Not all of its telephones are winners, however the not too long ago launched Moto G Stylus (2025) is fairly nice — and it simply occurs to stroll all around the T1 Cellphone.

The Moto G Stylus is available in fairly a bit cheaper than the T1 Cellphone at simply $400, but it matches or bests nearly the entire T1’s specs. The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel appears nice, the 5,000mAh battery gives dependable endurance, and the 68W wired cost speeds are ridiculously quick. The 50MP main and 13MP ultrawide cameras are additionally surprisingly good.

Past the spec sheet, the {hardware} is powerful, too. The Gibraltar Sea fake leather-based again is a stunningly saturated blue that, when you ask me, runs laps across the cheap-looking gold end on the T1 Cellphone. Motorola’s telephone can be extra sturdy, that includes an IP68 mud/water resistance score and a MIL-STD 810H military-grade sturdiness score. Plus, just like the identify suggests, the Moto G Stylus (2025) additionally comes with a bundled stylus that’s saved contained in the telephone once you aren’t utilizing it.

Motorola’s replace coverage is probably the most important weak spot right here, however when you don’t thoughts receiving simply two Android updates and three years of safety patches (which might be longer than what the T1 will get), the Moto G Stylus (2025) is a greater and cheaper telephone than the T1. It’s a straightforward decide.

I already touched on it earlier, nevertheless it’s price reiterating a giant query round Trump’s T1 Cellphone: What occurs when one thing goes mistaken? What occurs when you break your display? If there’s a battery problem? There’s zero details about this on the Trump Cell web site, which isn’t a very good signal. If these questions are prime of thoughts for you when shopping for a telephone, it’s best to try the HMD Fusion.

Not like most Android telephones accessible at this time (together with the T1 Cellphone), the HMD Fusion is extremely user-repairable. You’ll be able to simply exchange the telephone’s display, battery, charging port, speaker, and again cowl. Spare elements are readily bought by iFixit, and so they’re inexpensive, too (a brand new battery is simply $33 and a brand new display prices $57).

One other cool function of the HMD Fusion is that it may be custom-made with modular equipment, together with a gaming controller and a high-tech flash ring. The specs aren’t the perfect on the market, however contemplating how low cost the Fusion is, they’re stable sufficient. You get a 6.56-inch LCD show with a 90Hz refresh price, a 108MP rear digital camera, a 5,000mAh battery, 33W wired charging, and expandable storage through a microSD card.

For a telephone that prices simply $300, that’s a fairly stable bundle. The Galaxy S24 FE and Pixel 9a are a lot better telephones for quick efficiency, nice cameras, and long-term software program updates (the Fusion will solely get up to date by way of Android 16), however if you wish to preserve issues extra inexpensive and desire a telephone you’ll be able to simply repair your self, the HMD Fusion is among the greatest choices on the market.

The final different to the Trump T1 Cellphone I’d advocate taking a look at is the Punkt MC02. Not like the opposite telephones talked about right here, the Punkt MC02 doesn’t run a conventional model of Android. As a substitute, it’s powered by Apostrophy OS — a model of Graphene OS with its personal suite of security-focused functions and companies. That features a built-in VPN, in-depth privateness controls, and limiting functions from accessing any private information they might in any other case have entry to on a “regular” Android telephone.

The Punkt MC02 doesn’t ship with the Google Play Retailer or any Google apps pre-installed, however when you’d like, you’ll be able to nonetheless simply entry all of these issues — it simply requires a few additional steps within the identify of enhanced safety. So far as specs go, the Punkt MC02 isn’t all that thrilling. However that’s additionally not the purpose. If you need one of the vital privacy-centric telephones available on the market at this time, you’ll be hard-pressed to seek out one thing higher than what Punkt is providing.

The Punkt MC02 prices $599, making it a bit costlier than the T1 Cellphone. However it’s vital to do not forget that Punkt gives a load of privateness options you merely received’t get with Trump’s telephone, and if that’s vital to you, Punkt is much and away the higher choice.

I might preserve happening and on about different Android telephones I believe you should purchase as an alternative of Trump’s smartphone. The OnePlus 13R is simply $100 extra and considered one of my favourite Android telephones of the complete 12 months. The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G isn’t an ideal machine, however with a nicer design, higher show, and cheaper price than the T1, it’s a a lot better selection general. Hell, even when you’re a diehard Android person, I’d advocate shopping for the iPhone 16e over the T1 Cellphone any day of the week.

I say that not due to the politics surrounding the T1 Cellphone, however moderately as somebody who has been writing about and masking Android telephones for over a decade. Past the mediocre specs and uncompetitive worth, the vibes of the T1 Cellphone are simply off. The official render appears like a rushed Photoshop job (and a foul one at that), important data just like the show decision and chipset are nowhere to be discovered, and the copy on the Trump Cell web site is laughable (in a single part, the 5,000mAh battery is known as “5000mAh lengthy life digital camera”).

Take away the Trump affiliation from the T1 Cellphone, and my above record of advisable options stays the identical. This isn’t an Android telephone it’s best to spend your cash on. In the event you’re available in the market for one thing new, simply get one of many different telephones talked about right here. You’ll be glad you probably did.