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Tom’s Guide

Technology

John Velasco

I tortured myself for 2 weeks with the Trump Phone — here's 3 phones under $500 that are way better

Trump (Organization) Samsung John Velasco TCL Tom Guide Future Google

Spending just a single day with the Trump Phone T1 at a World Cup game wasn't enough to fully test it. That’s why I’ve been living with this $499 phone for over two weeks now, using it to try and capture Fourth of July fireworks and asking people what they thought about it.

It’s no secret that I like the phone's $499 price tag because it certainly puts it in contention for a best cheap phone contender, but it needs more than a low starting price to prove it’s worth buying. Once I began to look beyond its lustrous design and actually compare it to other phones I’ve been testing, I soon realized its shortcomings and why it's actually overpriced.

Instead, here are three phones under $500 I’ve tested that are way better than the Trump Phone T1.

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Trump Phone T1: specs comparison

	Trump Phone T1	Google Pixel 10a	TCL NxtPaper 70 Pro	Samsung Galaxy A37
Starting Price	$499	$499 / £499 / AU$849	$329	$449
Display	6.78-inch AMOLED Screen, 120Hz	6.3-inch Actua pOLED, 60-120Hz	6.9-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz	6.7-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz
Rear Cameras	50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto with 2x zoom	48MP (f/1.7) main, 13MP (f/2.2) ultrawide	50MP main, 8MP ultrawide	50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro
Front Cameras	50MP	13MP (f/2.2)	32MP	12MP
Chipset	Snapdragon 7 Gen 3	Tensor G4	MediaTek Dimensity 7300	Exynos 1480
RAM	12GB	8GB	8GB	6GB
Storage	512GB	128GB, 256GB	128GB	128GB
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,100 mAh	5,200 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging	30W wired, 15W wireless	30W wired, 10W wireless	33W wired, no wireless	45W wired, no wireless
Dimensions	6.58 x 2.95 x 0.35 inches	6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches	6.67 x 3.15 x 0.31 inches	6.41 x 3.08 x 0.29 inches
Weight	5.9 ounces	6.5 ounces	7.3 ounces	6.9 ounces
Colors	Gold	Lavender, Berry, Fog, Obsidian	Blue, Gold	Awesome Lavender, Awesome Charcoal

TCL NxtPaper 70 Pro

You'll end up paying way less.
Its matte 6.9-inch IPS display with NXTPAPAER tech makes it look like a Kindle.
More definition and detail out of the main camera.

I’ll start things off with my favorite phone of the bunch: the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro. Not only will you save $170 by buying it instead of the Trump Phone T1, but it also has one of the most original features I’ve seen on any phone in recent memory.

I’m referring to its one-of-a-kind matte display, which resembles a Kindle’s e-ink screen and is incredibly easy on the eyes. I thought the Trump Phone T1’s iridescent design would garner more attention when I whipped it out in public, but it paled in comparison to the looks I got with the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro. There’s nothing else like it, and it’s perfect for watching movies, reading stories, and playing games.

	Trump Phone T1	TCL NxtPaper 70 Pro
Peak Brightness (Nits)	630 nits	730 nits
Geekbench 6 (single / multi-core)	1,127 / 3,452	1,082 / 3,245
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (fps)	36.27 fps	19.78
Battery life (hrs:mins)	10:39	10:49
Charging % in 15 minutes	34%	30%
Charging % in 30 minutes	61%	56%

Shockingly, the Trump Phone T1 holds its ground when it comes to performance benchmarks such as GeekBench 6 and 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited tests. However, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro has a slightly longer battery life and brighter screen. The two aren’t all that different in my opinion, given how everyday tasks perform similarly on both.

Both phones have beefy 50MP cameras, but it’s pretty evident that the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro delivers superior results. There are far more fine details and better definition in its shots, like the one of the Lucid Air Touring I captured. It’s also clear that the TCL handles selfies better.

Ultimately, the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro's significant savings and unique display make it the better buy over the Trump Phone T1.

Samsung Galaxy A37

Big on productivity and multitasking with side-by-side apps and Edge Panel
Richer, more colorful looking display
Tons of fun camera modes to choose from

Samsung's A-series phones have always been known as value-centric devices, and at $449, the Galaxy A37 offers a compelling package that beats the Trump Phone T1. If you prioritize productivity above everything else, you won’t be disappointed by what One UI 8.5 brings to the table.

Similar to other Galaxy phones, it features the Edge Panel, which can be accessed at any time to load up other apps and run them side-by-side. In contrast, I’m forced to rely on the Trump Phone T1’s app switcher whenever I attempt to juggle two apps simultaneously. This makes copying and pasting inconvenient, whereas the Galaxy A37’s split-screen view makes it a breeze.

	Trump Phone T1	Samsung Galaxy A37
Peak Brightness (Nits)	630 nits	1,494 nits
Geekbench 6 (single / multi-core)	1,127 / 3,452	1,150 / 3,428
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (fps)	36.27 fps	23.4 fps
Battery life (hrs:mins)	10:39	10:41
Charging % in 15 minutes	34%	33%
Charging % in 30 minutes	61%	63%

Our testing highlights how the Galaxy A37 has a much brighter screen with a peak output of 1,495 nits, which is more than double the Trump Phone T1’s maximum brightness. However, both phones are evenly matched when it comes to battery endurance and processing performance — and my real-world tasks prove it.

Camera performance is high on my list, and the Galaxy A37 beats the Trump Phone T1 hands-down. From detail-rich closeups of flowers to daytime selfies, the Galaxy A37 consistently delivers better photos. I also prefer the variety of extra shooting modes it offers, including superior video stabilization that prevents the kind of jittery mess I got from the Trump Phone T1.

You’re still getting a $50 discount by going with the Galaxy A37, which, combined with its richer software experience and superior camera performance, makes the Trump Phone T1 less attractive.

Google Pixel 10a

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

You get 7 years of software support
Substantially much longer battery life
Handful of AI features add more to its value

If you’re ready to spend $500 on a new device, do the right thing and buy something that’s actually worthwhile. The Google Pixel 10a is the best cheap phone for good reason, and the Trump Phone T1 should take notes.

First and foremost is software support: the Pixel 10a gets seven years of major Android and security updates. The Trump Phone T1 is already behind because it’s still running Android 15, while the Pixel 10a just recently got updated to Android 17. Not only does this setup give you the latest software experience, but the Pixel 10a also features a suite of AI tools you won’t find on the Trump Phone T1 — like Call Screening, Camera Coach, and Auto Best Take.

	Trump Phone T1	Pixel 10a
Peak Brightness (Nits)	630 nits	1,895 nits
Geekbench 6 (single / multi-core)	1,127 / 3,452	1,694 / 4,501
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (fps)	36.27 fps	58.49 fps
Battery life (hrs:mins)	10:39	15:16
Charging % in 15 minutes	34%	31%
Charging % in 30 minutes	61%	64%

Although they cost the same, the comparison is a one-sided affair because the Pixel 10a beats its rival in just about every major benchmark. From its 1,895-nit peak screen brightness to the superior graphics performance of its Tensor G4 chip, the Pixel 10a highlights the disparity between a modern phone and the outdated hardware of its rival. There’s also a massive gap in battery life, with the Pixel 10a going the distance at 15 hours and 16 minutes.

There’s also no question as to which is the better camera phone, as the samples I captured above show. I’m particularly drawn to the ultrawide shot of the Lucid Air Touring; the Trump Phone’s photo looks dark and soft compared to the brighter look and richer details of the Pixel 10a.

Again, I can’t stress enough the kind of value you get with the Pixel 10a. From the hardware to the software, it shows exactly what a phone needs to offer in the $500 price range.