Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (2024)

by Tim Hardwick

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates this week participated in his first meeting on Clubhouse, the increasingly popular invite-only conversation app, where he fielded a range of questions as part of an ongoing book tour.

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (1)
Gates was interviewed by journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, and given that the Clubhouse app is currently only available on iOS, naturally one of the questions that came up was whether Gates regularly uses an iPhone and if he prefers iOS over Android.

"I actually use an Android phone," Gates said. "Because I want to keep track of everything, I'll often play around with iPhones, but the one I carry around happens to be Android."

"So Android vs Apple –is this a religious thing?" asked Sorkin.

"Some of the Android manufacturers pre-install Microsoft software in a way that makes it easy for me," Gates replied. "They're more flexible about how the software connects up with the operating system. So that's what I ended up getting used to. You know, a lot of my friends have iPhone, so there's no purity."

Clubhouse co-founder Paul Davison, who was also in the room briefly, told Gates and Sorkin that an Android version of the app is the "top feature" that they're currently working towards and are most excited about.

In a 2019 interview, Gates admitted that Microsoft losing to Android as the standard non-Apple phone platform was "one of one of the greatest mistakes of all time" for the Redmond-based company.

In fairness to Gates, it was Steve Ballmer who served as Microsoft's CEO between 2000 and 2014. Ballmer infamously laughed off the ‌iPhone‌, but Apple had the last laugh, as Windows Phone failed to ever gain any significant market share among mobile operating systems and was ultimately abandoned.

During the Clubhouse meeting, Gates admitted he had an uneasy relationship with Steve Jobs, but called the former Apple CEO "unique." Other topics that came up in Wednesday's online discussion included the global health crisis, climate change, and Gates' new book "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster." The full interview is available on YouTube.

Top Rated Comments

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (2)

28 months ago

Better question is why would anyone care what Bill Gates' preference is?

Score: 99 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (3)

28 months ago

doesn't even make sense.

* Set Bing as default search engine? - no problem
* Make Outlook default e-mail app? - no problem
* Make mobile edge (is that a thing?) default browser? - no problem
* Integrate one drive? - no problem

I would say the Office Apps are also far better optimised and integrated on iOS than Android.

Clearly he is just too lazy or hasn't used an iPhone much

Score: 71 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (4)

28 months ago

Or maybe he’s reached the age where he doesn’t care anymore. He just use whatever works for him.

Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (5)

28 months ago

"Gates said. "Because I want to keep track of everything"

?

Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (6)

28 months ago

I mean, is anyone really surprised?

Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (7)

28 months ago

I would have thought it would have been quicker and easier to install the Microsoft apps & services you need on an iPhone over uninstalling all the bloatware/crapware that comes preinstalled on many Androids.

Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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Bill Gates Says His Preference for Android Over iPhone is Due to Pre-Installed Software (2024)

FAQs

Does Bill Gates use Android or iPhone? ›

Gates said he uses an Android because he wants "to keep track of everything," during an interview on Clubhouse in 2021. He said he'll "often play around with iPhones," but depends on his Android because he's used to it.

Why Bill Gates still prefers Android instead of iPhone? ›

"I actually use an Android phone," Gates told Sorkin. "Because I want to keep track of everything, I'll often play around with iPhones, but the one I carry around happens to be Android. Some of the Android manufacturers pre-install Microsoft software in a way that makes it easy for me.

Why is iPhone more preferred over Android? ›

The iPhones have a series of processors that reportedly deliver better performance than most Android phones. In addition, Apple blends hardware and software well, making the iPhone more efficient and effective.

What kind of smartphone does Bill Gates use? ›

Gates currently uses Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and before this he used Galaxy Z Fold 3 as his primary phone. Gates seemed quite impressed with the Fold 4's “screen size” which –according to him, allows him the freedom to not use “a tablet but just the phone and my portable PC.”

Has Bill Gates ever used an iPhone? ›

Bill Gates has said many times that he prefers Android over iPhone, and that apparently hasn't changed. In a recent “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit, the Microsoft co-founder revealed that he unsurprisingly hasn't made the switch to an iPhone nor does he use an iPad, Mac, or Microsoft Surface Duo.

Do rich people use Apple or Android? ›

Meanwhile the use of Android devices is also a strong indicator of wealth. Some 59.5% of people using Android phones are among households with the highest incomes. But Apple, the world's most valuable brand, rated worth US$182.8 billion by Forbes this year, remains in the ascendancy.

Which phone does Jeff Bezos use? ›

Jeff Bezos

The Amazon owner and founder used a Blackberry phone back in 2012 and was last seen using a Samsung handset, before he launched Amazon's Fire Phone.

Who owns more iPhone or Android? ›

Android continues to reign in the global market with a 71.65% market share in Q1 2023, while iOS has 27.71% of the mobile operating system users. Android is an open-source platform owned by Google that can be adapted and used by many smartphone brands.

Why Android is cheaper than iPhone? ›

Development of Quality

They churn out much dollar bills to ensure their devices remain premium. Not so many Android OEMs invest a lot in these segments. To make their devices more affordable, they cut costs in these areas. Manufacturers like Huawei and Samsung spend much in these areas for their flagship smartphones.

Is it worth switching to iPhone from Android? ›

iOS devices have the upper hand when it comes to cybersecurity. iPhones have tighter security than Android, thanks to the exclusive Apple App Store, closed ecosystem, and prompt updates. These make iOS devices challenging to infiltrate. Also, an iPhone is extremely unlikely to be infected with a virus.

What are the disadvantages of iPhone over Android? ›

While always-on displays and customizable lock screens are available on the iPhone, there are plenty of aspects on this platform that might drive you crazy.
  • Notification management is annoying. ...
  • Some Google apps aren't as intuitive on iOS. ...
  • Layout customization is limited on iOS. ...
  • You're locked to the App Store.
Jan 29, 2023

Is it better to have Android or iPhone? ›

Both iPhone and Android provide solutions for people with different needs. If you already own Apple products like the Mac, iPad, or Apple TV, getting an iPhone is an easy choice. If flexibility or apps are important, go for an Android. Different categories matter more for certain people.

What phone does Warren Buffett use? ›

Buffett has been a long-term user of a $20 ( ₹1,438 approximately) Samsung SCH-U320 flip phone. Now, he is a proud owner of an iPhone 11. The billionaire investor admitted that he uses his new iPhone "as a phone".

Why did Bill Gates want to work with Apple? ›

Gates praises Apple

The future billionaire added that he was “enthused” to work on the Macintosh, because it was rare for Microsoft to get to develop software for new devices before they hit the market. Embedded below is a clip of Gates discussing Microsoft's work on Macintosh software from the 1983 promo video.

What is Bill Gates new technology? ›

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says that OpenAI's GPT AI model is the most revolutionary advance in technology since he first saw a modern graphical desktop environment (GUI) in 1980. Before that, people used their computers through a command line.

What brand phone has the best security? ›

If you're looking for well-known brands, the Apple iPhone and Google Pixel are two of the most secure smartphones available. Otherwise, look for the Blackphone PRIVY or Sirin Labs Finney U1 for advanced cybersecurity and privacy features like a cold-storage cryptocurrency wallet.

Why do people prefer Samsung over iPhone? ›

Although consistency is still Apple's strong suit, the camera experience as a whole feels a lot more refined, fun, and versatile in Samsung smartphones. For the people who like to play around with their cameras and experiment with new camera features, Samsung phones are the ones to go for.

Which phone does Donald Trump use? ›

Device security

Before, he had been using a Samsung Galaxy S3 which only has Android 4.3. 1 as its latest OS, a version of Android which Google marked as unsupported and discontinued as of Trump's inauguration. Since then, he has used an iPhone to use Twitter.

What is Elon Musk's cell phone? ›

According to several media reports, Tesla Pi Phone will hit the markets in the month of December 2022. Elon Musk owned company has decided to launch its smartphone series after successfully making their place in the cars and space sector. Let's find out the features, specs, and price of Tesla Pi Phone below.

Is Android losing to Apple? ›

Data shows Android losing ground to iOS, but Google's platform still dominates the market. Android is unsurprisingly the most popular mobile operating system in the world, as it's available on a huge variety of devices.

Are Apple sales declining? ›

Apple sales dropped at the end of 2022 as shoppers squeezed by the rising cost of living cut back their purchases.

What percent of Americans have an iPhone? ›

iPhone Market Share

If we look at the data from June 2021 to February 2023, iPhone has an average market share of 56.69% in the U.S.A.

Can you FaceTime on Android? ›

Can Android users initiate a FaceTime call? No. FaceTime is an Apple service, so Android users can only join FaceTime calls set up by Apple users.

Why are iPhones overpriced? ›

iPhones Retain Their Performance for a Longer Time

Compared to Android flagships, Apple's A-series chips for its iPhones perform better. Since it's custom-made for the iPhone, it can deliver an uninterrupted and smooth experience. It incorporates expensive and top-tier parts, making it super efficient and fast.

Who has the most users Android or iPhone? ›

Share of mobile operating systems in North America 2018-2023, by month. Google's Android and Apple's iOS are the major competitors in the mobile operating system market in North America. In January 2023, Android accounted for about 45 percent of the mobile OS market, while iOS accounted for around 55 percent.

Does Bill Gates have Apple? ›

Gates' trust has since sold his shares in Apple, which ultimately exceeded AU$2 billion. When Jobs died in 2011, Gates honoured the Apple icon as both competitor and friend.

What does Steve Jobs say about Android? ›

"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong. I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this," the late CEO famously said.

What does Steve Jobs think of Android? ›

In biography, late Apple co-founder said he would go "thermonuclear" on Android, an operating system he saw as a "stolen product." Steve Jobs felt that Android was a rip-off of Apple's iOS and wasn't going to settle any lawsuits with Google or its partners no matter what.

Who is smarter Android or iPhone users? ›

A recent study has found that people who use an iPhone are smarter than those who prefer Android devices. This is based on research that found states with more college graduates also tend to have higher iPhone sales. Scroll down for a breakdown of results by state...

What age group uses Android? ›

Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
...
CharacteristiciPhoneAndroid phone (Samsung, Google, etc.)
18-34 years58%41%
35-54 years47%53%
55 years and older49%51%
Dec 1, 2022

What did Elon say to Bill Gates? ›

Elon Musk took a dig at fellow billionaire Bill Gates and his understanding of AI in a tweet on Monday. He claimed that Gates' understanding about AI is limited. This was in response to a tweet, by a user named Sandy Kory, that appreciated Bill Gates' role at Microsoft and his bullish view on AI.

What laptop Bill Gates use? ›

Bill Gates Signed 'Ultimate Offer' Asus W5Fe Laptop.

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