As of January 2025, Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 18, has been adopted by 76% of iPhones released in the past four years. This statistic highlights the rapid uptake of new software versions among users with newer devices.
When considering the entire iPhone user base, regardless of device age, iOS 18 is installed on 68% of devices. The remaining distribution includes 19% of users on iOS 17 and 13% on earlier versions.
This broader perspective indicates that while a majority have transitioned to the latest OS, a notable segment continues to operate on older software, possibly due to hardware limitations or personal preferences.
The iPad ecosystem shows a similar but slightly slower adoption trend. Among iPads released in the last four years, 63% are running iPadOS 18, with 27% on iPadOS 17, and 10% on earlier iterations.
Across all iPad models, 53% have upgraded to iPadOS 18, 28% remain on iPadOS 17, and 19% are on older versions. The slower adoption rate of iPads may stem from different usage patterns and the longer lifecycle of these devices.
The adoption rate for iOS 18 aligns closely with its predecessor, iOS 17. By early 2024, iOS 17 had reached 76% adoption on iPhones released in the prior four years, mirroring the current numbers for iOS 18. This consistency reflects stable user engagement with Apple’s annual updates.
Historically, Apple’s operating systems have seen varying adoption rates. For example, iOS 16 reached 81% of all iPhones by mid-2023, while iOS 15 had a slower adoption rate early in its cycle. Factors influencing these variations include the appeal of new features, device compatibility, and user readiness to update.
The strong adoption of iOS 18 highlights Apple’s strategy in encouraging users to upgrade. The company’s focus on seamless updates, enhanced features, and robust security measures plays a crucial role in maintaining high adoption rates. As Apple continues to innovate, future operating system releases will likely experience similar rapid integration into the user base.
