In a recent appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg launched a scathing critique of Apple, accusing the tech giant of stagnation in innovation, exploitative pricing strategies, and restrictive practices that stifle competition. Zuckerberg&rsquo;s remarks come at a time when competition among tech companies has intensified, particularly in areas like virtual reality and wearable technology.
Zuckerberg specifically targeted Apple&rsquo;s recent technological trajectory, claiming the company has rested on its laurels since the revolutionary invention of the iPhone by Steve Jobs over 15 years ago. &ldquo;Steve Jobs invented the iPhone, and now they&rsquo;re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later,&rdquo; Zuckerberg remarked, emphasizing the lack of groundbreaking advancements in Apple's recent product lineup. He also suggested that declining iPhone sales signal a growing consumer disinterest due to minimal improvements between iterations.
One of Zuckerberg&rsquo;s most pointed critiques was directed at Apple&rsquo;s App Store policies. He accused the company of exploiting developers with what he referred to as a &ldquo;30 percent tax,&rdquo; a fee Apple charges for transactions conducted through its platform. &ldquo;They do it by basically squeezing people,&rdquo; he said, alluding to the challenges app developers face when trying to profit from their creations under Apple&rsquo;s pricing model.
Another major grievance discussed was Apple&rsquo;s closed ecosystem, which Zuckerberg argued prevents fair competition. He highlighted Apple&rsquo;s restrictions on third-party compatibility, particularly when it comes to hardware like headphones and smart glasses. Using AirPods as an example, Zuckerberg claimed Apple deliberately blocks other companies from accessing its proprietary connection technology, stifling innovation in the audio device market. He suggested that without these restrictions, competitors would have developed superior products by now.
The discussion also turned to Meta&rsquo;s own efforts in hardware innovation, with Zuckerberg comparing Meta&rsquo;s VR headset to Apple&rsquo;s Vision Pro. He touted Meta&rsquo;s product as a superior alternative and criticized Apple for being insecure in its approach to security and device integration. He further elaborated on Meta&rsquo;s challenges in making its Ray-Ban smart glasses compatible with iPhones, accusing Apple of prioritizing restrictive practices over user experience.
Zuckerberg ended his critique with a bold prediction: &ldquo;Someone will beat Apple,&rdquo; he declared, arguing that the company&rsquo;s reluctance to embrace true innovation and open ecosystems could lead to its downfall. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re off their game,&rdquo; he added, suggesting that Apple&rsquo;s dominance in the tech industry is not as secure as it once seemed.
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Joe Rogan podcast

Zuckerberg criticizes Apple’s innovation, pricing, and restrictive policies on Joe Rogan podcast

Mark Zuckerberg Calls Out Apple for Innovation Stagnation

Zuckerberg criticizes Apple’s innovation, pricing, and restrictive policies on Joe Rogan podcast

January 12, 2025 | 05:56 IST