In a recent episode of Joe Rogan's podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered a scathing critique of Apple, questioning the tech giant's commitment to innovation following its groundbreaking development of the iPhone. Zuckerberg's observations come amid ongoing tensions between the two companies, exacerbated by policies that have affected Facebook's advertising revenue and growth.
Zuckerberg voiced concerns regarding Apple's perceived complacency, suggesting that the company has failed to launch any remarkable new products for the last two decades. He claims that Apple has essentially plateaued, highlighting that the incremental improvements in iPhone iterations have left users hesitating to upgrade. "They haven’t really invented anything great in a while. It’s like Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they’re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later," he stated, noting that declining sales may lead to Apple relying more heavily on its 30% cut from App Store sales.
He further criticized Apple's approach to creating peripherals, using AirPods as an example of how Apple's tight control limits competition and innovation in accessories that integrate with the iPhone. Zuck's frustrations with Apple are long-standing and were intensified by the introduction of the App Tracking Transparency feature in iOS 14.5, which dramatically impacted Facebook's targeted advertising model.
This critique comes on the heels of a tumultuous year for Facebook, which saw its stock plummet by 61% at one point due to various challenges, including shifting advertising dynamics and evolving competition. Although META's shares have since rebounded significantly, Zuckerberg's comments highlight ongoing rivalries in the tech landscape and the challenges each company faces in maintaining their competitive edge.
