Mark Zuckerberg has once again escalated his ongoing rivalry with Apple, taking to Joe Rogan’s podcast to deliver a pointed critique of the tech giant. In his remarks, Zuckerberg claimed that Apple, which has enjoyed long-standing dominance with its iPhone, has become complacent, relying on incremental upgrades to the device rather than pushing the envelope with truly innovative technologies. He emphasized that Apple’s approach to innovation is increasingly stagnant, suggesting that the company has been “milking” the iPhone for nearly two decades. Zuckerberg’s tone was sharp, as he noted that Apple’s innovation, at least in the realm of the iPhone, has largely plateaued, with only modest enhancements to its flagship product.
This critique extends beyond the iPhone and into Apple's broader policies, particularly its stringent privacy measures and its control over the App Store. Zuckerberg’s frustration stems from what he views as Apple's use of privacy as a "shield" against legitimate criticisms, asserting that Apple uses privacy concerns to limit competition, especially when it comes to Meta's ability to target advertisements. Zuckerberg’s comments about privacy are significant, as they highlight a critical area where Meta’s ad business has been impacted by Apple’s policies. The Meta CEO suggested that Apple’s approach to user privacy, rather than being a genuine attempt to protect consumers, is more about consolidating control. Zuckerberg believes Apple could still improve privacy without undermining the security of its ecosystem, which he claims is flawed due to a lack of proper encryption protocols. His statement, “It’s insecure because you didn’t build proper security into it,” suggests that Apple’s privacy stance is more about maintaining a monopoly than protecting user data.
Zuckerberg’s criticisms are not without merit when viewed in the context of Meta’s long-standing frustration with Apple’s App Store policies. Apple’s introduction of the App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature in 2021, which limits the ability of apps like Facebook to track users’ activities across different platforms, has been a bone of contention between the two companies. Zuckerberg has repeatedly argued that this move harms small businesses that rely on personalized ads for revenue generation. For Zuckerberg, the ability to track users across apps is vital for both Meta's advertising business and for supporting smaller companies that benefit from the precision of targeted ads.
However, Zuckerberg’s critique of Apple goes beyond privacy and security and delves into broader business practices. He expressed frustration with Apple’s 30% transaction fee on App Store purchases, a practice that Meta and many other developers have long criticized. According to Zuckerberg, this fee, which he calls an arbitrary "developer tax," harms competition by limiting how much developers can earn from their apps. He also accused Apple of using its ecosystem to restrict the development of alternative products that could compete with Apple's own offerings, such as AirPods. Zuckerberg’s argument is that Apple’s business model is built on extracting excessive profits from both developers and consumers, through both its App Store fees and the sale of proprietary accessories that users are encouraged to buy to fully integrate with Apple devices.
As part of his critique, Zuckerberg also addressed Apple’s highly publicized Vision Pro headset, which has failed to make a significant impact in the market, particularly in the U.S. Despite acknowledging that the Vision Pro represents a significant technological leap for Apple, Zuckerberg couldn’t resist taking a shot at its underwhelming sales. He noted that Meta’s own virtual reality efforts, particularly through the Meta Quest line of headsets, are faring much better, with the Quest devices offering a more practical and accessible approach to virtual reality. Zuckerberg took a diplomatic tone but couldn't help but point out that Apple’s initial foray into mixed reality did not meet the lofty expectations set by the company’s marketing and that Vision Pro's commercial performance reflected this.
It’s clear that Zuckerberg sees Meta’s focus on virtual reality and the metaverse as the future of computing, positioning the company as a leader in these emerging fields. His comments about Apple’s relative stagnation serve as a reminder of the two companies’ differing visions for the future of technology. Zuckerberg sees Apple’s incremental approach as limiting, while Meta is betting on the metaverse, immersive experiences, and virtual reality as the next frontier of digital interaction. Meta’s investment in virtual reality, while still in its early stages, has the potential to reshape the way people interact with digital content, offering far more immersive experiences than what is currently available on smartphones.
The ongoing rivalry between Apple and Meta underscores the philosophical divide between the two companies. Apple has built its empire on its closed ecosystem of devices, services, and apps, while Meta is positioning itself at the forefront of the open, decentralized digital world of the future. Zuckerberg’s comments, especially regarding privacy, the App Store policies, and the Vision Pro headset, are an expression of his frustration with Apple’s closed approach to innovation, and they reveal how deeply Meta is invested in creating the next big thing in technology. For Zuckerberg, the metaverse is where the future lies, and the contrast with Apple’s more conservative approach couldn’t be clearer.
Zuckerberg’s jabs at Apple aren’t likely to be the last. As both companies continue to push forward in their respective spaces, their rivalry will undoubtedly continue to evolve. Zuckerberg, in particular, seems eager to position Meta as a disruptive force, challenging Apple’s dominance in the realms of virtual reality, advertising, and even mobile software. Apple, meanwhile, is holding steady with its focus on hardware excellence, privacy, and its ecosystem of products, which continues to enjoy loyal consumer support. Ultimately, this rivalry is about much more than just consumer products—it’s about which company will define the future of technology in the years to come. The stage is set for a battle of innovation, with Apple and Meta squaring off for dominance in the next phase of the digital revolution.
