The $499 Trump T1 smartphone is likely to be manufactured in China despite claims of a U.S. build.

Announced by the Trump Organization, the T1 smartphone, which will cost $499, is highly likely to be produced by a Chinese manufacturer, despite official statements about the assembly of the device in the United States. The device will run on the Android operating system and is presented in gold color.

The company claims that the smartphone will be "created in the United States", however, according to experts, the device was designed and will be assembled at the facilities of one of the Chinese ODM manufacturers. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of International Data Corp., noted that the full development and assembly of a smartphone in the United States is impossible with the current level of industry readiness. According to him, the Chinese manufacturer of original equipment, which designs and assembles products commissioned by third-party brands, is probably involved in the creation of T1.

Counterpoint Research analyst Blake Przesmicki confirmed this estimate and pointed out that there is no manufacturing base for smartphones in the US. According to experts, despite the marketing positioning, real production will be linked to Chinese production chains.

The Trump T1, like most modern smartphones, will depend on the global supply chain of components. The device will receive a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, which is supplied by companies such as Samsung, LG and the Chinese BOE. At the stated price of the device, it is most likely to use MediaTek processors manufactured in Taiwan, or Qualcomm, whose chips are also produced in Taiwanese factories. For a 50-megapixel camera, you will need image sensors, the leader of which is the Japanese Sony.

Partial localization of the build in the United States will not change the overall dependence on foreign components. According to Jeff Fieldhack, research director at Counterpoint Research, American companies will still have to rely on supplies from abroad.

The Trump Organization did not comment on information about actual production plans and expert estimates.