Mark Zuckerberg Calls Out Apple for Slowing Innovation and Charging Developers

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently criticized Apple for its lack of innovation and what he called “random rules.” In a podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg shared his thoughts on Apple’s approach to technology, especially regarding its iPhone and Vision Pro headset.

Zuckerberg pointed out that Apple has not created anything as groundbreaking as the iPhone, which was introduced by Steve Jobs over 20 years ago. He argued that since then, Apple has not had any major innovations.

“They have used that platform to put in place a lot of rules that I think feel arbitrary,” Zuckerberg said. He also mentioned that iPhone sales are slowing down because new models aren’t offering big improvements over previous versions.

Zuckerberg criticized Apple for charging a 30% commission on developers and pushing consumers to buy more peripherals, like AirPods, instead of focusing on real innovation. He suggested that Apple is making money by “squeezing people” rather than improving their products.

Apple defends its strict rules by saying they protect consumer privacy and security. However, Zuckerberg disagrees. He believes that Apple’s security issues are self-created because the company hasn’t built proper protocols. He argued that if Apple improved its security, it could allow other devices to connect to the iPhone more easily.

Zuckerberg also took a jab at Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which had disappointing sales. He said, “I think the Vision Pro is one of the bigger swings at doing a new thing that they tried in a while,” but he felt the first version of the product didn’t meet expectations. He added that while it’s good for watching movies, it didn’t “hit it out of the park.”

Zuckerberg’s comments reflect his frustration with Apple’s approach to innovation, and he suggested that Meta could see a significant increase in profits if Apple relaxed its rules.