The reply you received is essentially correct: you can't hack in capabilities that depend on missing hardware. Gemini Assist requires specific processing power, RAM, and other technical specifications that cheaper phones often don't have. It's not just about the software—the physical components have to be there to support it.

Here's what's actually happening:

Hardware Limitations
Your budget phone likely doesn't meet Gemini's minimum requirements. Google's AI features are computationally intensive and need adequate RAM, a capable processor, and sufficient storage. The phone isn't refusing you because of regional restrictions (though that message is frustrating and misleading)—it's genuinely unable to run the feature smoothly.

Why T-Mobile's Old Phone Had It
Flagship or mid-range phones bundled with carrier plans typically have the horsepower to support Gemini. Budget devices simply don't, even if they technically run the same Android OS.

Your Real Options

° Upgrade to a mid-range phone (not necessarily expensive) that meets Gemini's specs—something like a Pixel 6a or comparable device
° Switch carriers but keep your budget approach by buying a slightly better used phone outright
° Accept the limitation and use alternative voice assistants or AI tools that are lighter-weight

The annoying part is that T-Mobile's message about "AI restricted states" isn't helping you understand the real issue, which is pure hardware insufficiency. But unfortunately, there's no workaround here—you'd need actual better hardware.