iOS 26 ADOPTION LAGS BEHIND iOS 18

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

FRI, JUL 24, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 2 SOURCES ▸ TIMELINE

Apple reported that 79% of all iPhones and 86% of devices released in the last four years were running iOS 26 as of June 7, down from 82% and 88% adoption rates for iOS 18 before WWDC 2025.

The adoption figures reveal a slower uptake for iOS 26 compared to its predecessor across both metrics. For all iPhones in use, adoption dropped 3 percentage points from iOS 18's 82% to iOS 26's 79%. Among newer devices released within the past four years, the gap widened to 2 percentage points, with iOS 26 reaching 86% adoption versus iOS 18's 88%. The decline could reflect varied factors including user preferences to delay updates, device compatibility limitations, or a broader pattern in software upgrade cycles. Apple typically releases major iOS versions annually at WWDC, and adoption rates can fluctuate based on feature sets, stability concerns, and the age of supported devices. Despite the lower figures, iOS 26 maintains strong penetration across Apple's install base, demonstrating the company's continued ability to distribute software updates at scale.

■ SOURCES

► Techmeme ► Techmeme

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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iOS 26 ADOPTION LAGS BEHIND iOS 18

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