A screen large enough to work on without the bulk of additional hardware
Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft and steward of one of the world's most consequential philanthropic enterprises, has long made a quiet but telling choice: he carries a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold rather than an iPhone. In an era when tech luminaries are often assumed to orbit Apple's ecosystem, Gates's preference speaks to something older and more principled — a belief that tools should serve work, not the other way around. His selection of a foldable Android device, deeply integrated with Microsoft's own software, is less a consumer decision than a philosophical statement about openness, utility, and the long memory of a rivalry that shaped the modern technology age.
- The assumption that the world's most powerful technologists naturally gravitate toward Apple is quietly upended by Gates's documented preference for Samsung's foldable line.
- The Galaxy Z Fold4's 7.6-inch unfolding display and seamless Microsoft app integration make it less a phone and more a portable command center for someone managing a global foundation.
- Android's open architecture sits at the heart of Gates's choice — a philosophical and historical preference over Apple's closed ecosystem, sharpened by decades of corporate rivalry.
- With the Z Fold6 now priced up to $2,259.99, the line Gates favors signals that premium utility, not prestige, is the standard by which he measures technology.
- Gates has almost certainly moved on to the Z Fold5 or Z Fold6 by now, but his underlying logic — power, flexibility, and Microsoft integration — remains unchanged.
Bill Gates no usa un iPhone. Tampoco un dispositivo Xiaomi. El cofundador de Microsoft ha optado por el Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, una elección que dice más sobre sus valores que sobre sus preferencias de consumidor.
El modelo que Gates adoptó, el Galaxy Z Fold4, funciona menos como un teléfono convencional y más como una estación de trabajo portátil. Cerrado, cabe en un bolsillo. Desplegado, su pantalla de 7,6 pulgadas se convierte en algo cercano a una tableta, eliminando la necesidad de cargar dispositivos adicionales. Para alguien que gestiona una fundación global e iniciativas tecnológicas complejas, esa pantalla no es un lujo: es una herramienta.
Las especificaciones refuerzan la lógica: procesador Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 12 GB de RAM, hasta 1 TB de almacenamiento y una batería de 4.400 mAh. No son cifras diseñadas para impresionar, sino para sostener un día completo de trabajo real.
Pero la razón más profunda de su preferencia por Samsung sobre Apple reside en el software. Las aplicaciones de Microsoft — Outlook, Teams — corren de forma nativa en Android, y la pantalla expandida del Z Fold las convierte en herramientas genuinamente eficientes. Gates ha favorecido históricamente la arquitectura abierta de Android sobre el ecosistema cerrado de Apple, una postura enraizada tanto en filosofía como en la larga rivalidad entre Microsoft y Apple.
Hoy, Gates probablemente usa el Z Fold5 o el Z Fold6 — modelos que oscilan entre los 1.799 y los 2.259 dólares —, pero su criterio permanece constante: integración con sus herramientas, espacio de pantalla para trabajar en serio, y la flexibilidad de un sistema abierto. Para alguien de su trayectoria, la pregunta nunca fue qué teléfono está de moda, sino cuál realmente funciona.
Bill Gates, the Microsoft cofounder whose technology choices have long carried weight in Silicon Valley and beyond, uses a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold—not an iPhone, not a Xiaomi device. The revelation might surprise those who assume the world's most prominent tech figures gravitate toward Apple's ecosystem, but Gates's selection tells a clearer story about what he actually values in a phone.
The device Gates has chosen is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, a foldable smartphone that functions less like a traditional phone and more like a portable workstation. When closed, it fits in a pocket. When unfolded, its 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display—with a resolution of 2,176 by 1,812 pixels—transforms into something closer to a tablet. This design choice matters to Gates because it eliminates the need to carry separate devices. A man managing a global foundation and overseeing complex technology initiatives benefits from a screen large enough to work on without the bulk of additional hardware.
The technical specifications underscore why Gates would find this device practical. The Galaxy Z Fold4 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor paired with 12 gigabytes of RAM and storage options ranging from 256 gigabytes to 1 terabyte. A 4,400 milliamp-hour battery sustains the device through a full day of use. The camera system—a 50-megapixel main lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto—handles both professional documentation and casual photography. These are not flashy specifications designed to impress; they are the specifications of a tool built for work.
But the real reason Gates prefers Samsung over Apple becomes apparent when considering software integration. Microsoft's Outlook and Teams applications run seamlessly on Android, and the Z Fold's expansive screen makes managing email, video calls, and collaborative documents far more efficient than on a standard phone. Gates has long favored Android's open architecture over Apple's closed ecosystem, a preference rooted partly in philosophy—he views Android as more adaptable to specific needs—and partly in history. The rivalry between Microsoft and Apple stretches back decades, and Gates has traditionally avoided Apple products as a result.
The current pricing for the Z Fold line reflects its premium positioning. The Z Fold5, the previous generation, costs $1,799.99 for the base 256-gigabyte model and $1,919.99 for higher storage. The latest Z Fold6 ranges from $1,899.99 to $2,259.99 depending on capacity. These are not casual purchases. They represent a commitment to a specific vision of what a smartphone should be—not a status symbol, but a genuinely useful instrument for someone whose work demands flexibility and power.
Gates likely uses one of the newer models now, either the Z Fold5 or the Z Fold6, as the Z Fold4 has aged out of Samsung's official retail channels. His choice, however, remains consistent: a device that prioritizes integration with his existing tools, screen real estate for complex work, and the open flexibility of Android over the constraints of iOS. For someone of Gates's stature and technical background, the decision reflects not what is fashionable but what actually works.
Citas Notables
Gates has explained that he prefers the Galaxy Z Fold over other devices due to its excellent integration with Microsoft applications like Outlook and Teams, which facilitates the management of his work and daily communication.— Source reporting on Gates's stated preference
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why would someone like Bill Gates, who could use literally any phone, choose a foldable Samsung over an iPhone?
Because he's not choosing based on brand prestige. He's choosing based on what his actual work requires—a large screen for managing documents and video calls, seamless integration with Outlook and Teams, and the flexibility of Android.
But doesn't Apple's ecosystem have that same integration now?
It does, but Gates has a philosophical preference for open systems. He's also spent decades in competition with Apple. That history shapes choices.
The Z Fold costs nearly two thousand dollars. Is that expensive for him, or is it just the price of the tool?
For Gates, it's simply the price of the tool. He's not buying it to show off. He's buying it because a 7.6-inch screen eliminates the need to carry a tablet, and that efficiency matters when you're managing a foundation and dozens of projects simultaneously.
Does his choice influence what other executives buy?
Absolutely. When someone of Gates's visibility and credibility chooses a device, it signals that foldables are serious productivity tools, not gimmicks. It gives permission to others to consider them.
What does this say about the smartphone market right now?
It says the market is fragmenting. The iPhone is no longer the default choice for everyone, even for the most prominent figures. Android and foldable technology have matured enough that they're genuinely competitive for serious work.