Update 1/20: App Store Distribution Data updated today revealing iOS 8 adoption has climbed 1% from its previous measure at 68%. iOS 8 adoption now measures at 69% of active devices according to App Store data captured January 19th. The rate increase is in line with MixPanel’s increase to roughly 71% now up from roughly 70% toward the start of the month.
Apple has shared its latest App Store Distribution Data on iOS 8 adoption to report that some version of its current mobile operating system is installed on 68% of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. Apple tracks the rate of iOS 8 adoption based on devices accessing the App Store with the current data being captured on January 5th, 2015.
The new iOS 8 adoption percentage jumps 8 points since late November when Apple reported that 60% of devices were using iOS 8 with incremental jumps between then and now.
For comparison, analytics company Mixpanel reports iOS 8 adoption just above Apple’s own data at roughly 70% in its latest numbers.
How does 68-70% adoption of iOS 8 compare to adoption of Apple’s previous major update with iOS 7? According to Mixpanel’s analytics, users running iOS 7 during the same period a year ago reached just over 83%, putting iOS 7 adoption some 13 points higher than that of iOS 8 currently and continuing a trend we’ve previously seen.
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Considering that about 15+% of devices are 4+ years old and ineligible for iOS 8, and considering that some devices are “corporate managed” by slow and stodgy IT departments, I conclude that this is fast growth. I’m sure that some iphone 4S owners also skipped out.
iOS 9 is going to be a very lean installation. But due to this and whatever devices it leaves behind there’s going to be rather thick “Earlier” slice this time next year.
Still pretty weak considering past adoption rates. If there’s any argument to be made for a consumer mindset against updating due to fear of bugs and issues, this is it.
You’re looking at close to full penetration for iOS 8 as previous posters alluded to. The disparity between this and the previous release’s adoptions rates boils down to device eligibility. There are simply a lot of existing iOS devices out in the wild that are not capable of installing iOS8. Of those that can, expect the biggest holdouts to be iPhone 4S.
I’d consider the current figure the equivalent to 100% of eligible devices and fully saturated – at this point in time. That number will grow between now and iOS9 as more new devices are sold and older ones break down.
FOllowing up to my own post. As a developer, I’d consider it prudent to continue supporting iOS7 for at least another year. There have been some developers foolish enough to go all-in on iOS8, which I chalk up to poor management and code deployment skills, especially those that shut the tap on older releases as part of a point update and not a rewrite.
Good points.