The Trump phone just got a $250 price hike | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchLightSystemDarkTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The Trump phone just got a $250 price hikeNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyThe Trump phone just got a $250 price hikeEven the Trumps can’t escape RAMageddon.Even the Trumps can’t escape RAMageddon.by Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonSep 10, 2026, 9:13 AM UTCLinkShareGiftIt’s going to take a lot more gold coins to buy the Trump Phone now. Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergePart OfRAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortagesee all updates Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism. He previously worked at Android Police and Tech Advisor.Bad news if you didn’t lock in a Trump phone at launch: It now costs $749, a $250 increase on its price at launch. The T1 Phone itself hasn’t changed.Trump Mobile didn’t announce the price increase, instead quietly changing its website overnight. This wasn’t a total surprise though, especially given the phone ships with an unexpectedly generous 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. When I spoke to two Trump Mobile executives earlier this year, they called the $499 launch pricing “introductory,” and a few months later, the website itself was changed to reflect that, calling it a “promotional price.” That wording is now gone.When I reviewed the Trump phone in July, I wasn’t especially impressed, even at $499. At $749 there is absolutely no reason recommend it. You could buy an iPhone 17E or Galaxy S26 FE and have $50 left over to buy a gold case; $50 more would net you an older flagship like the iPhone 16 or Pixel 10. Any one of these phones would blow the T1 Phone out of the water.RelatedI spent a year trying to figure out if the Trump phone is a scamTo my surprise, my Trump phone has received some support since it launched. There’s been exactly one software update, moving it from Android’s February 2026 security patch to the May 2026 version. It’s still running Android 15 though, which is now two years old.While the Trump phone officially started shipping in May, almost a year after it was announced, it remains unclear just how many customers have received their phones. A report from the BBC last month found that at least some buyers still say their phones never arrived.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Dominic PrestonCloseDominic PrestonNews EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Dominic PrestonGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsMobileCloseMobilePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MobileNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPhonesClosePhonesPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PhonesPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortageIt’s the year of smartphone price hikesStevie BonifieldSep 9Framework is giving some customers a RAM refundStevie BonifieldSep 9Intel CPUs are reportedly getting a 10 percent price hike in OctoberStevie BonifieldSep 8Most PopularMost PopularThe iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldableHands-on with the foldable iPhone DuoApple’s iPhone 18 Pro has a dynamic aperture main cameraiPhone 18 live blog: On the ground at Apple’s biggest eventiPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Our first hands-on impressionsVideoThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in GadgetsThere aren’t AirPods with cameras yet and I hope it stays that wayThe incomplete history of Duo devicesIt’s the year of smartphone price hikesHow the new Apple Watches compare to the last-gen modelsHands-on with the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4Hands-on with the foldable iPhone DuoThere aren’t AirPods with cameras yet and I hope it stays that wayJohn HigginsSep 9The incomplete history of Duo devicesAndrew LiszewskiSep 9It’s the year of smartphone price hikesStevie BonifieldSep 9How the new Apple Watches compare to the last-gen modelsBrad BourqueSep 9Hands-on with the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4Victoria Song and Stevie BonifieldSep 9Hands-on with the foldable iPhone DuoAllison Johnson and Dominic PrestonSep 9Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesSep 9Hands-on with the foldable iPhone DuoSep 9Verge staffers react to the iPhone Duo: What we love and don’t loveSep 9Apple iPhone Duo launch event: The 5 biggest announcementsSep 9OpenAI’s sly mathematical breakthrough sends a chill through academiaSep 9I spent an hour riding inside Tesla’s steering-wheel-free CybercabThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy RightsYour Privacy ChoicesCookie NoticeAdChoicesLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform StatusPenske Media CorporationThe Verge is a part of PMX Global, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.© 2026 VM Publishing, LLC. 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The pricing and reception of the Trump phone have become subjects of scrutiny, particularly concerning recent financial adjustments and the device's overall quality. Following its initial launch at $499, the phone has experienced a significant price increase, now costing $749, which represents a $250 hike from the launch price. This change occurred after the initial launch, prompting an examination of the product's value proposition and the context of the broader market conditions, including ongoing memory shortages alluded to by the reference to RAMageddon.

The device itself features specifications such as 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Attention was drawn to the pricing communication, as some Trump Mobile executives had previously described the launch price as introductory, a stance later reflected on the website before being removed. This shift in pricing demonstrates a move away from the initial promotional positioning. A critical assessment of the phone’s value suggested that at the current price point of $749, there was little compelling reason to recommend it, especially when considering alternatives such as the iPhone 17E or the Galaxy S26 FE, which would allow for additional expenditure on premium accessories.

Furthermore, the device’s operational history and software lifecycle present further complexity. Since its launch in May, only a single software update has been documented, moving from the February 2026 security patch to the May 2026 version. Despite this update, the phone continues to operate on Android 15, which is now two years old. This indicates a lag in iterative software support. Additionally, there are unresolved logistical issues, as reports from sources like the BBC indicated that some buyers have not received their phones, raising questions about fulfillment and delivery processes. Dominic Preston, the news editor, noted that despite the launch, the phone has received limited support, suggesting potential issues beyond immediate hardware specifications.