The Trump Mobile T1 survived scratch and bend tests conducted by YouTuber Zack Nelson, but a motherboard swap has provided further evidence of its close hardware similarities to the HTC U24 Pro.
In a JerryRigEverything video published on 29 October 2026, Nelson dismantled the Trump-branded smartphone and demonstrated that the two devices continued working after their motherboards were exchanged.
The findings add to questions surrounding the T1, which has attracted scrutiny over its American branding and resemblance to an existing smartphone.
The test offers a clearer look at the device's construction, although it does not establish where the finished handset was assembled or resolve every question about its manufacturing arrangements.
Trump Phone Teardown Reveals Extensive HTC Similarities
The latest test follows an earlier investigation by repair specialists iFixit, which found that the T1 closely resembles the HTC U24 Pro, a mid-range smartphone released in 2024. That teardown documented similarities in the phones' internal layouts, components and specifications.
Nelson's examination took the comparison further. The two handsets have matching dimensions and similar button placement, while their internal arrangements share the same basic layout, including the positioning of the motherboard and other components.
Trump Phone Durability Test - Its worse than we thought... pic.twitter.com/HinP0JPf7X
— JerryRigEverything (@ZacksJerryRig) October 28, 2026
The most revealing moment came when Nelson swapped the phones' motherboards, and both devices continued working, confirming their hardware compatibility. However, they are not identical.
The T1 has a larger 5,000mAh battery than the HTC U24 Pro's 4,600mAh unit, but slower wired charging.
They also differ in camera-flash placement, speaker grilles and memory suppliers.
These findings are significant as evidence points to closely related hardware rather than two completely identical retail products. The T1 has its own branding and some modifications, even if much of its underlying design appears to follow the HTC model.
The similarities nevertheless raise questions about how much original hardware design distinguishes the Trump-branded device from its predecessor.
Trump Phone Passes Bend Test but Raises Branding Questions
The durability results were easier to analyse.
Nelson's scratch test produced the first visible marks on the display glass at level six on the Mohs hardness scale, with deeper grooves appearing at level seven, a result described in coverage of the test as typical for modern smartphones.
The gold-coloured rear panel and its coating proved more vulnerable to scratching, while the phone's frame withstood the blade test. Nelson also bent the handset from different directions, but it remained intact without an obvious structural failure.
The T1's durability does not necessarily make its hardware original.
Nelson also spotted a design error on the rear panel, where the American flag appeared to have 11 stripes instead of the usual 13.
The 11-stripe American flag graphic is a visible design error, but it does not prove unlawful marketing. Likewise, the phone's similarities to the HTC U24 Pro do not establish where it was manufactured or whether its branding is misleading.
Those questions require evidence about its assembly, suppliers and country-of-origin claims.
For buyers, the durability test offers some reassurance about the handset's physical strength, but leaves a key question unanswered: what sets the T1 apart from the HTC beyond its branding and minor design changes?
