One thing that iOS has always been and will always be better at than Android is adoption rates for updates. The nature of Android makes it so that it can take months for your device to receive the latest version of the operating system, assuming it ever does, but that’s not the case with iOS. Unless they’re using some really outdated hardware, iOS users tend to receive the latest updates within a few days of their release, which is why it’s not all that surprising that iOS 8 has reached more than 87% adoption on compatible devices.
In an update to its developer webpage ahead of Wednesday’s iOS 9 release, Apple revealed that the soon to be replaced iOS 8 is currently running on 87 percent of compatible devices. The statistic posted to Apple’s App Store Support page shows 11 percent of devices are running iOS 7, while earlier iOS versions account for a two percent share. Apple drew its data from App Store visitations on Sept. 14. Compared to the same time last year, when iOS 7 was about to be replaced by iOS 8, adoption for Apple’s current-generation operating system is down three points. Despite booming iPhone sales and the release of Apple Music with iOS 8.4, uptake rates have been moderate. In April, Apple measured iOS 8 adoption at 81 percent. After an official unveiling in June, Apple’s iOS 9 is scheduled for release tomorrow. The new operating system will bring users a number of enhancements over iOS 8, including a tweaked UI, a News app, smarter Siri interactions, iPad-specific multitasking and Transit data for Maps, the latter being a much anticipated addition.
