iOS 26 Shows Unusually Slow Adoption Months After Release

iOS 26 is showing unusually dilatory adoption among iPhone users months aft release, according to third-party analytics.


Usage information published by StatCounter (via Cult of Mac) for January 2026 indicates that lone astir 15 to 16% of progressive iPhones worldwide are moving immoderate mentation of ‌iOS 26‌. The breakdown shows iOS 26.1 accounting for astir 10.6% of devices, iOS 26.2 for astir 4.6%, and the archetypal iOS 26.0 merchandise astatine astir 1.1%. In contrast, much than 60% of iPhones tracked by StatCounter stay connected iOS 18, with iOS 18.7 and iOS 18.6 unsocial representing a bulk of progressive devices.

Historical comparisons item however atypical this adoption curve appears. StatCounter information from January 2025 shows that astir 63% of iPhones were moving immoderate mentation of iOS 18 astir 4 months aft its release. In January 2024, iOS 17 had reached astir 54% adoption implicit a akin timeframe, portion iOS 16 surpassed 60% adoption by January 2023.

Based connected those figures, ‌iOS 26‌ adoption appears to beryllium moving astatine little than one-quarter of the complaint achieved by caller predecessors during the aforesaid post-release window. StatCounter derives its estimates from web postulation analytics, tracking operating strategy versions via leafage impressions crossed its planetary web of participating websites.

In the archetypal week of January past year, 89.3% of MacRumors visitors utilized a mentation of iOS 18. This year, during the aforesaid clip period, lone 25.7% of MacRumors readers are moving a mentation of ‌iOS 26‌. In the lack of authoritative numbers from Apple, the existent adoption complaint remains unknown, but the information suggests a level of hesitation toward ‌iOS 26‌ that has not been seen successful caller years.

Unlike galore erstwhile releases, ‌iOS 26‌ introduces Liquid Glass arsenic a cardinal ocular overhaul, replacing ample portions of the accepted opaque interface with translucent layers, blurred backgrounds, and dynamic extent effects crossed strategy elements. Upon its announcement astatine WWDC past year, the redesign received mixed reviews, which could beryllium a contributing origin to hesitation astir upgrading.

Likewise, Apple present continues to enactment older operating systems with information updates, allowing users to stay connected iOS 18 without contiguous unit to update oregon forfeit captious patches. This makes it overmuch easier for users to stay connected older software.
This article, "iOS 26 Shows Unusually Slow Adoption Months After Release" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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