Why Elon Musk’s Phone Choice Might Surprise You

Have

you ever wondered what smartphones billionaires carry? While some may carry custom-built devices with gold plating, others may still stick to the basics for their day-to-day needs. However, Apple’s iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices have always been a popular choice among tech moguls. A new leaked image has suggested what phone Elon Musk is using currently.

Is Elon Musk using an iPhone?

The Tesla chief was recently photographed outside a federal courtroom in California, where he attended proceedings related to his ongoing dispute with OpenAI. The image showcased Musk holding what looked like an iPhone 17 Pro model in a deep blue color. While neither Apple nor Musk has confirmed about the device, it is speculated that the device Musk carries comes from the latest Pro lineup. It is ironic that the tech mogul is using an iPhone given its long history about slamming the Cupertino-based tech giant.In 2025, Musk’s xAI filed a federal lawsuit in Texas against OpenAI and Apple, alleging a conspiracy to stifle competition. He claimed that the company prioritises ChatGPT and does not give weightage to his own Grok in the App Store. Moreover, he questioned why X and Grok were not in Apple’s ‘Must Have’ featured section, calling the company’s curation an unequivocal antitrust violation.Similarly, the Tesla CEO threatened to ban all Apple devices in 2024, when Apple announced a partnership to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18. He said, “If Apple integrates OpenAI at the OS level, then Apple devices will be banned at all his companies (Tesla, X, SpaceX, and more).Not all tech leaders use the iPhone. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg is often seen with the Samsung Galaxy Ultra devices, suggesting his liking for the Android OS. While Bill Gates uses a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold device. Evidently, Sundar Pichai has been seen with the latest Pixel smartphones.While Musk was spotted outside a federal court, his phone’s picture surfaced online when he was involved in a legal dispute with OpenAI. Notably, the legal conflict between OpenAI and Elon Musk is being heard in a federal court in Oakland, California, as the trial started on April 27, 2026, where the xAI chief claims OpenAI shifted its original nonprofit mission to a profit-driven model. OpenAI has rejected the claims of Musk.