Apple shared the adoption rates of iOS 18 with the public as of January 21. The company announced that 68% of all iPhone models have iOS 18 installed. In addition, 76% of the devices released in the last four years have switched to this operating system. While iOS 17 was used on 66% of all iPhones in the same period last year, this rate was announced as 76% on devices of the last four years. This chart shows only a small increase in iOS 18 adoption rates.
However, iPad users’ approach to the update is also remarkable. Apple stated that only 53% of all iPads have iPadOS 18 installed. This rate maintains the level reached by iPadOS 17 last year. When it comes to iPad models released in the last four years, a usage rate of 63% stands out. This means an increase of only 2% compared to the iPadOS 17 rate, which was announced as 61% the previous year. However, in general, it seems that iPad users’ interest in updates is lower than iPhone users.
Stagnation draws attention in the transition to iOS 18
This stagnation in Apple’s latest updates offers important clues for understanding user behavior. In particular, it is a matter of curiosity how the prominent artificial intelligence-focused features of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 affect the adoption rates. Apple did not share exact information about how popular these features are. However, it is noteworthy that in the iOS 18.3 beta version, artificial intelligence-based Apple Intelligence features are enabled by default. This change aims to allow users to access artificial intelligence features more easily.
In the past, these features were only enabled if users explicitly consented. Now, users encounter these features during installation and can change the settings later. It can be said that this is a planned step to bring artificial intelligence features to more users. In addition, it can be argued that this move by Apple is a strategy to increase the adoption rates of iOS 18.
This limited increase in iOS and iPadOS updates may indicate that Apple needs to re-evaluate the user experience. There may be reasons why users hesitate to switch to new updates, such as hardware compatibility, storage problems or new features not being attractive enough. Additionally, the possibility of older models slowing down with updates may cause users to approach updates cautiously.
Apple generally attaches great importance to compatibility with old devices when presenting new operating system versions to its users. Despite this, it is known that update rates are lower, especially among older device owners. This may mean that the company is also reviewing its software support policy to direct users to new devices.
The limited increase in adoption rates of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 compared to previous versions can be both an opportunity and a challenge for Apple. The company can increase these rates by focusing more on areas that can attract users, such as artificial intelligence-based innovations. On the other hand, users’ approach to software updates remains a critical factor that will shape Apple’s future strategies.