After the unveiling of iOS 18 at the WWDC 2024, Apple provided insight into the adoption rates of iOS 17 among iPhone users. According to Apple Developer, the installation rate of iOS 17 stands at 77%, which is lower than the 81% adoption rate of its predecessor, iOS 16, during the same period in June 2023. Notably, iPhones introduced in the last four years have an iOS 17 installation rate of 86%, lagging behind the 90% adoption of iOS 16 during a similar timeframe.
These metrics are significant for developers as they gauge the compatibility of their apps with different iOS versions. For users, the adoption rate serves as a barometer to evaluate the desirability of updating to iOS 17.
Turning to iPadOS 17, the adoption rate among iPad users stands at 68%, while iPads launched within the past four years boast an installation rate of 86% for this operating system. Additionally, it’s worth noting that 15% of iPads are still running on iPadOS 16, indicating that some older iPad models unable to upgrade are still in use.
With the imminent release of iOS 18, the focus shifts to adopting this new version, especially since it will be compatible with all iPhone models that currently support iOS 17. However, only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will receive Apple Intelligence, posing a limitation for other iPhone users. Yet, other enhancements like customizable home screens and RCS messaging are anticipated to make iOS 18 more appealing.
Industry experts predict that iOS 18 not only has the potential to set new records in terms of reception but also indirectly incentivize users to upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro and the forthcoming iPhone 16 lineup to fully leverage the capabilities of Apple Intelligence.