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The Trump Mobile T1 Phone now costs $749 in the United States, a $250 increase over its launch price, and the company made no announcement about it. The website changed overnight on September 10, 2026. The Verge links the hike to the global memory shortage it calls "RAMageddon." Nothing about the phone changed: it still ships with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. The real question is whether the T1 makes any sense at the new price.
At a Glance
- New price: $749 in the US (up from $499, a $250 increase); roughly 640 to 680 euros in approximate conversion, though it is not officially sold in Europe
- How it happened: the website changed overnight with no announcement; the earlier "promotional price" wording has been removed
- Specs: unchanged, 512GB storage and 12GB RAM
- The Verge's explanation: the global RAM shortage (RAMageddon), though executives had called $499 "introductory" pricing from the start
- Alternatives: per The Verge, an iPhone 17E or Galaxy S26 FE costs about $50 less, and roughly $50 more buys an iPhone 16 or Pixel 10
- Backdrop: shipping began in May 2026, almost a year after announcement; exactly one software update so far, still on Android 15
Why This Matters
This price hike tells two bigger stories at once. First, the worldwide memory chip shortage is no longer just a PC and server problem; it is reaching into smartphone pricing, and every maker carrying generous RAM and storage feels the pressure. Second, even a politically branded product cannot escape ordinary market math. And for buyers, the calculation is simple: at $749, which established phones compete with the T1, and do any of the math for you?
Main Story
A price change with no announcement. According to The Verge, Trump Mobile never announced the increase; the price simply changed on its website overnight. It was not a complete surprise. When the phone launched, two Trump Mobile executives told The Verge that $499 was "introductory" pricing, and months later the website itself called it a "promotional price." That wording is now gone.
Is RAMageddon behind it? The Verge points directly at the global memory shortage, its so-called RAMageddon, as the driver. The T1 ships with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, a surprisingly generous configuration for its original price point. As memory chip costs rise worldwide, holding that configuration gets more expensive. One caveat matters: this is The Verge's interpretation; Trump Mobile itself has given no reason.
Is the T1 worth $749? The Verge reviewed the phone in July and, in the reviewer's words, was not especially impressed even at $499; at $749 there is no reason to recommend it. The comparison math: an iPhone 17E or Galaxy S26 FE costs about $50 less than $749, leaving enough left over for a gold case. Another $50 buys an older flagship like the iPhone 16 or Pixel 10. According to The Verge, any of these phones would outperform the T1.
Table 1: The T1 Phone, Launch vs Now
(Source: The Verge, September 10, 2026; euro conversion is a PetaTech24 estimate)
Table 2: The $749 Fight: T1 vs the Alternatives (per The Verge's calculations)
(The price comparison is based on The Verge's relative figures; check current local retail prices in your region before buying)
- The T1's year so far: shipping, updates and unanswered questions. The phone was announced in mid-2025, and shipping began almost a year later, in May 2026. Software support has been limited: exactly one update so far, moving the security patch from February 2026 to May 2026. The phone still runs Android 15, now a two-year-old version. A BBC report last month found that at least some buyers say their phones never arrived, and the total number of delivered customers remains unclear.
Table 3: Confirmed vs Reported vs Unknown
What Happens Next
The Verge's ongoing RAMageddon coverage suggests the memory shortage will keep touching device pricing in the coming months. For the T1 specifically, open questions remain: whether Android updates become more frequent, whether delivery complaints get resolved, and whether $749 can attract new buyers. As of publication, Trump Mobile had not issued any official statement about the price increase.
FAQ
1. How much does the T1 cost now?
$749 in the US, up from $499, with no official announcement.
2. Can I buy the T1 in Europe?
Trump Mobile has not announced official sales outside the US. $749 converts to roughly 640 to 680 euros, but that is only an exchange-rate estimate, not an official euro price.
3. Why did the price go up?
Trump Mobile has not said. The Verge attributes it to the global RAM and memory shortage, and executives had called the original $499 "introductory" pricing.
4. Is the T1 worth $749?
According to The Verge's reviewer, no: at this price, the iPhone 17E, Galaxy S26 FE, iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 are all cited as stronger choices. The decision depends on your priorities.
5. Did the specs change?
No. 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM remain unchanged.
Bottom Line
The T1 price hike captures two realities of the moment: in a memory-shortage era, generous specs at low prices are hard to sustain, and political branding does not rewrite market math. At $499 the T1 was a curiosity; at $749 it faces established rivals on hard terms. For buyers, the smart move is to look past the price label, check independent reviews and compare real prices in your own region.
Sources and Attribution
- The Verge (September 10, 2026, Dominic Preston): the price hike, website change, introductory pricing history, RAMageddon context, July review verdict and alternative phone comparisons.
- BBC (August 2026): report on buyers who say their phones never arrived (as cited by The Verge).
- Euro conversions are PetaTech24 estimates; the T1 is not officially sold in Europe.
- Trump Mobile has not issued a statement explaining the price increase, which is noted in this report.
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