Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg calls his company the ‘opposite of Apple'

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently explained how his company is the opposite of Apple, highlighting key differences in their strategies and cultures. He emphasized these contrasts during a recent live interview on the “Acquired” podcast, released Wednesday. Zuckerberg said that Meta follows a distinct philosophy.

Meta opposite of Apple in product philosophy

Zuckerberg noted that Meta’s approach to product releases focuses on fast-paced iterations and continuous feedback, while Apple prioritizes highly polished, slower rollouts. “I think in a lot of ways we’re like the opposite of Apple,” Zuckerberg said. “Their approach works for them, but we believe in putting things out there and learning from feedback, even if it’s not perfect.”

The Facebook founder said Meta’s fast-moving culture drives innovation. He explained that employees quickly ship products, gather feedback, and make improvements. In contrast, he critiqued Apple’s method, stating, “If you wait to get praised all the time, you’re missing opportunities to learn and improve.”

The CEO’s comments highlight the long-standing ideological divide between the two tech giants. Apple controls a closed ecosystem with tightly integrated hardware and software. In contrast, Meta builds open platforms that encourage input from various developers.

He described Meta’s vision as a more open model, contrasting Apple’s famous “walled garden.” He shared that one of Meta’s long-term goals is “to build the next generation of open platforms and have those open platforms win.” His comments highlight how Meta seeks to develop technologies, including AI and augmented reality (AR), that allow for greater access and customization.

Meta’s rivalry with Apple grows

Apple CEO Tim Cook has downplayed the rivalry in the past, but competition with Meta has intensified. Apple’s Vision Pro headset now competes directly with Meta’s Quest lineup in the AR market. Additionally, Apple’s expanding advertising business challenges Meta’s main source of revenue.

In the podcast, Zuckerberg addressed the expanding scope of competition between Meta and Apple, suggesting that the latter may be a larger competitor than many realize. “People don’t necessarily think of Apple as one of our chief rivals,” Zuckerberg said, “but it’s becoming a bigger competitor.”

This tech sector rivalry extends beyond hardware, with Meta’s focus on the metaverse and Apple’s advancements in generative AI. With the impending release of Apple Intelligence, its AI-powered product set to roll out in October, both companies are vying for dominance in future tech markets.

For Zuckerberg, the competition between Meta and Apple is more than just about products; it’s about values. He believes Meta’s commitment to open platforms and user-driven development stands in stark contrast to Apple’s closed model. “It’s a deeply ideological competition around what the future of the tech industry should be,” he stated.

However, Meta is facing trouble again in the European Union. The EU is investigating Meta over concerns of unfair practices. Officials suspect Meta may have unfairly linked its Facebook social network to its Marketplace service.