Pavel Durov Calls iPhone Owners “Digital Slaves”

The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has stated that Apple limits iPhone owners in their choice of services and apps, effectively turning them into the company’s slaves. Durov believes that Apple devices are bulky and outdated, and that owning one makes a person a “digital slave” because they can only use apps approved by Apple in the App Store. Additionally, for backups, users are restricted to using Apple iCloud.

“Every time I have to use an iPhone to test our app on iOS, I feel like I’m being thrown back to the Middle Ages,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.

As an example, Durov pointed out the iPhone’s 60 Hz display refresh rate, which cannot compete with the 120 Hz refresh rate available on Android devices.

Durov also criticized Apple for cooperating with Chinese authorities. “It’s no surprise that Apple’s totalitarian approach is so valued by the Communist Party of China, which now has full control over the apps and data of all its citizens who rely on the iPhone, thanks to Apple,” wrote the Telegram founder.

Earlier, Durov stated that Telegram’s commitment to user privacy has made it the most downloaded app in the world. He added that over the past 7.5 years, the messenger has consistently protected privacy and regularly improved the quality and features of its apps.