Mark Zuckerberg made some sharp comments regarding **Apple** during his time on *The Joe Rogan Experience* podcast.
The Meta CEO conversed with Joe Rogan on Friday, creating several attention-grabbing quotes. One of the key moments was when Zuckerberg criticized Apple, accusing the tech company of lacking innovation since the introduction of the **iPhone** in 2007, as noted by [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/11/mark-zuckerberg-slams-apple-on-its-lack-of-innovation-and-random-rules.html). Although he recognized the iPhone’s role in bringing smartphones into the mainstream, Zuckerberg expressed his dissatisfaction with Apple’s following business tactics.
“But on the other hand… they have utilized that platform to implement numerous rules that seem arbitrary, and [I] believe they haven’t genuinely invented anything remarkable in quite some time,” Zuckerberg stated on the podcast. “It’s as if Steve Jobs created the iPhone, and now they’re just resting on it 20 years later.”
### Has Apple Really Hit a Standstill?
To be fair, Apple has launched or contributed to the popularity of various significant product categories since 2007. While it didn’t originate tablets or wireless earbuds, its **iPad** and **AirPods** have grown so iconic that their names are frequently used generically to refer to any tablet or earbuds. Nevertheless, Zuckerberg’s broader claim—that none of these innovations have achieved the monumental impact of the iPhone—remains valid. That said, it’s misleading to assert that Apple has done *nothing* since then.
### Critique of Apple’s “Random Rules”
Zuckerberg went beyond innovation. He also targeted Apple’s business strategies, criticizing its “random rules.” He particularly focused on the 30% commission Apple charges app developers on its iOS App Store and the incompatibility between third-party devices and Apple products like AirPods. According to Zuckerberg, these practices are how Apple maintains its revenue as [iPhone sales decline](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/02/apples-falling-iphone-sales-not-a-problem-as-margins-buybacks-grow.html).
“So how are they increasing their profits as a company? Well, they achieve this by essentially pressuring people… implementing this 30 percent tax on developers and getting you to purchase more accessories and items that connect to it,” Zuckerberg explained. “They create products like AirPods, which are impressive, but they have really restricted the ability for anyone else to develop something that connects to the iPhone in a similar fashion.”
### The Apple Vision Pro Discussion
Zuckerberg also shared his thoughts on the **Apple Vision Pro**, Apple’s venture into mixed-reality headsets. While he conceded that it represents “one of the bigger risks” Apple has embraced lately, he asserted that the device “did not surpass expectations.” His critique arises from the stance of someone leading a company that manufactures rival headsets, such as the [Meta Quest 3](https://mashable.com/review/meta-quest-3s). Nevertheless, his concern is not entirely baseless—Apple has reportedly [reduced Vision Pro production](https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/31/vision-pro-may-be-out-of-production/) due to low interest.
### Concluding Remarks
And that encapsulates Zuckerberg’s comments related to Apple during his time on Joe Rogan’s podcast. For those who remember Joe Rogan from his *NewsRadio* or *Fear Factor* days, witnessing him host technology discussions with billionaires like Zuckerberg remains somewhat surreal.