Trump Mobile Delays T1 Again; $59M in Deposits at Risk

Trump Mobile has postponed the T1 smartphone launch again while holding roughly $59 million in $100 preorder deposits from about 590,000 buyers. The company updated its preorder terms to state the device may never be produced.

The T1 was introduced by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump in June 2025 as a U.S.-made, $499 handset. The company initially promised deliveries in August 2025, then rescheduled to November, December and later to a “mid to late January” window after a federal government shutdown in late December. A Q1 2026 target passed without shipments and the site has removed any firm release date.

Trumpmobile.com still displays promotional material for the T1, but dedicated product pages return errors or show only illustrations and a waitlist. The waitlist lists specifications such as a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, camera details and Android software, alongside prominent disclaimers. The site currently highlights refurbished Samsung phones and iPhones available on a $47.45 monthly plan labeled the “47 Plan.” The T1 has Federal Communications Commission authorization, but the company has not provided a production timeline.

On April 6, 2026, T1 Mobile LLC revised its preorder deposit terms to say a $100 deposit “does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase.” The update describes deposits as a “conditional opportunity” and calls any estimated ship dates “non-binding estimates only.” The revised terms also limit the company’s obligations around refunds.

Tech content creator Carter Ryan wrote on TikTok that he was paying $100 for a chance to pay more later if the product is made. Entrepreneur Mario Nawfal pointed out that nearly 600,000 people have placed deposits and that guarantees on delivery and refunds were removed from the terms.

The company says refund requests continue to be handled through customer service, but the updated terms include limited enforceable promises to return deposits if production never begins. With about $59 million collected and no shipment history, depositors face financial exposure.

Federal agencies have authority over consumer marketing and certain deposit practices. The Federal Trade Commission reviews misleading marketing and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversees some deposit arrangements. Separately, a Trump-branded token launched in January 2025 now trades about 96% below its peak.

Key outstanding questions for buyers remain when, if ever, the T1 will enter production and whether depositors will receive refunds if the company does not move forward.