Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta, has publicly criticised Apple, accusing the company of stifling competition and unfairly profiting from developers. His comments, made during an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, highlight ongoing tensions between the two tech giants.
Zuckerberg did not hold back, addressing what he sees as Apple’s lack of innovation, restrictive policies, and monopolistic tendencies in the tech industry. His remarks come amidst increasing scrutiny of major technology firms over their business practices and market dominance.
Zuckerberg specifically targeted Apple’s reliance on its flagship product, the iPhone, to sustain its market dominance. He claimed that Apple’s strategy of incremental updates to the iPhone, coupled with high fees on developers, is hurting innovation and competition.
Mark Zuckerberg just declared war on Apple.
In a shocking 3-hour conversation with Joe Rogan, he tore apart Apple’s strategy:
“They haven’t invented anything great in a while… they’re just squeezing everyone.”
Here’s what Zuck had to say about Apple’s strategy on JRE ? pic.twitter.com/HLNeTTJaeP
— Tim Carden (@timjcarden) January 11, 2025
He accused Apple of prioritising its profits over fostering a fair ecosystem for other companies and developers. These comments shed light on the growing rivalry between Meta and Apple, especially as both companies are competing in emerging fields like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
In the podcast, Zuckerberg touched on several critical points. He criticised Apple’s App Store policies, the hefty 30% commission on app developers, and Apple’s restrictive approach to third-party integrations.
He also voiced his concerns about Apple’s new Vision Pro headset, which he suggested is overpriced and underwhelming compared to Meta’s offerings. His remarks reflect a broader frustration among tech companies about Apple’s perceived unwillingness to adapt to a rapidly changing tech environment.
Mark Zuckerberg on Apple’s Lack of Innovation
Zuckerberg began his critique by highlighting Apple’s over-reliance on the iPhone. According to him, while the iPhone has been transformative in connecting the world, Apple has failed to introduce groundbreaking innovations in recent years. He pointed out that the company seems content with incremental updates to the iPhone rather than introducing truly novel technologies.
Mark Zuckerberg says Apple haven’t invented anything great in a while: “Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they’re just sitting on it 20 years later… so how are they making more money as a company? They do it by squeezing people” pic.twitter.com/0vlECjoUDz
— Tsarathustra (@tsarnick) January 10, 2025
“Steve Jobs invented the iPhone, and now they’re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later,” Zuckerberg remarked during the podcast. He suggested that consumers are upgrading their phones less frequently because new models offer minimal improvements. In his view, this stagnation is evidence that Apple has not lived up to its reputation as a leader in technological innovation.
Zuckerberg also hinted that Apple’s lack of significant advancements is one reason for the declining sales of iPhones. As users find fewer reasons to purchase new devices, Apple’s profits are increasingly dependent on ancillary products and services, including fees levied on developers and sales of peripherals like AirPods.
Criticism of Apple’s Developer Fees
One of Zuckerberg’s main points of contention was the 30% commission Apple charges developers on its App Store. This fee, often referred to as the “Apple Tax,” has been a longstanding issue for app creators, particularly smaller businesses. Zuckerberg argued that Apple’s fee structure places an undue financial burden on developers and stifles innovation.
“They do it by basically squeezing people and having this 30% tax on developers,” he said, adding that this approach forces developers to pass on the costs to consumers. He described the fees as arbitrary and unfair, noting that Apple’s dominance in the mobile phone market leaves developers with little choice but to comply.
Zuckerberg also criticised Apple’s restrictive policies regarding app compatibility and interoperability. He pointed to the example of AirPods, accusing Apple of blocking other companies from using the same connectivity technology. According to him, this prevents other manufacturers from competing fairly and limits consumer choice.
Frustrations with Apple’s Privacy and Security Justifications
Another focal point of Zuckerberg’s criticism was Apple’s stance on privacy and security. While Apple has often positioned itself as a leader in consumer data protection, Zuckerberg suggested that the company uses these principles as an excuse to maintain its closed ecosystem.
“It’s insecure because you didn’t build any security into it,” Zuckerberg claimed, referring to Apple’s refusal to allow third-party devices to integrate seamlessly with iPhones. He argued that Apple could resolve these issues by building better security protocols and using encryption, rather than restricting access for other companies.
Zuckerberg cited his own company’s struggles in this regard. For instance, when Meta attempted to improve compatibility between its Ray-Ban smart glasses and iPhones, Apple declined, citing security concerns. Zuckerberg dismissed these concerns as unfounded, arguing that Apple’s real motive was to prioritise its products over those of competitors.
Comments on Apple’s Vision Pro Headset
Zuckerberg also weighed in on Apple’s Vision Pro headset, a mixed-reality device introduced as a competitor to Meta’s own VR headsets. While acknowledging Apple’s effort to enter the VR space, he described the Vision Pro as overpriced and underwhelming.
Mark Zuckerberg’s take on Apple. A must watch. I love Apple products. Always have. However, his take on how they haven’t come up with something truly innovative is spot on. A few examples:
1) AirPods Max 2 … they just added a USB-C charger. Other than that, it’s the same thing… pic.twitter.com/h6Z0bO2jCQ
— Antonio Reza (@theantonioreza) January 11, 2025
“I think the Vision Pro is one of the bigger swings at doing a new thing that they’ve tried in a while,” Zuckerberg said. However, he added that the first version of the headset “definitely did not hit it out of the park.” Despite his criticism, Zuckerberg admitted that Apple might improve in subsequent iterations, noting that the second and third versions could be more competitive.
Meta, which has invested heavily in VR and AR technologies, sees Apple’s entry into the market as both a challenge and an opportunity. While Apple’s reputation and resources could drive adoption of these technologies, Zuckerberg’s remarks suggest that he believes Meta’s devices, such as the Meta Quest, offer better value and performance.
