Adapted by:
Eva Rodríguez de Luis
WriterAn engineer by training, I like to analyze what's going on around me: science, tech and society.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
The billionaire philanthropist knows which operating system gives him more control—and which phone helps him work best.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates might have loved to own a Windows Phone, but he doesn’t. While Gates helped create the most dominant desktop operating system of the last few decades, his attempt at launching a mobile OS didn’t take off. Microsoft stopped selling Windows Phones in 2017, unable to gain ground against Android and iOS.
Looking back, Gates has called missing out on Android one of his biggest mistakes. When he stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000, he later admitted that letting Google build Android was a costly misstep—one that current CEO Satya Nadella also recognizes. “The greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is,” Gates once said. But time moves on, and these days, he relies on a different device—one he says helps him stay in control.
Gates Prefers Android and Samsung Devices
Even though iPhones dominate the U.S. market, Gates sticks with Android. He explained why during a 2021 Clubhouse interview: He prefers an OS that gives him more control. He also appreciates that some Android phones come with Microsoft apps preinstalled, which makes things easier for him.
He hinted that Android’s flexibility is a big part of the appeal: “They’re more flexible about how the software connects up with the operating system. So that’s what I ended up getting used to,” he said. While he occasionally picks up an iPhone, he always carries an Android.
Bill Gates’ 2022 AMA on Reddit.
The exact phone Gates uses sparked discussion after a 2022 Reddit AMA. When a user asked what phone he had, Gates said he used a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, praising the large screen that let him get by with just his laptop and phone.
Samsung took note. During a visit to South Korea, former Samsung CEO Lee Jay-Yong gifted Gates a Galaxy Z Fold 4—which he now uses. Gates shared the anecdote in a 2023 AMA, adding that he prefers the foldable “book” format. “The screen size means I don’t use a tablet but just the phone and my portable PC—a Windows machine,” he said.
Gates doesn’t collect Rolexes and prefers a modest Casio collection. His father was a model of simplicity and practicality, and Gates seems to follow suit. So unless Samsung sends another gift, chances are he’s sticking with the Fold for a while.
What Apps Does Gates Use?
In the same 2023 AMA, Gates listed his go-to apps. Unsurprisingly, he uses Outlook and a suite of Microsoft tools. Nadella still includes him in some research and product planning, and Gates stays connected through Microsoft’s ecosystem.
The Fold’s large screen isn’t just convenient—it’s strategic. Samsung and Microsoft have collaborated closely, and Samsung’s premium devices often come with Microsoft’s productivity apps already baked into One UI, the company's Android skin.
In a conversation with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Gates asked about Altman’s favorite apps. Altman named Slack. When Altman turned the question around, Gates admitted he’s “old-school,” relying mostly on Outlook for email and a browser—likely Microsoft Edge—for reading the news.
Image | Billionaires Success | Evgeny Opanasenko (Unsplash)
View 0 comments