Skip to main content

More than half of Apple users are now running iOS 9 on their devices

more than half of apple users are now running ios 9 on their devices compatibilty
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The majority of iOS device owners have upgraded to the latest version of the operating system, according to a new report from third-party analysts Localytics. The final public version of Apple’s mobile OS was pushed out to the world almost exactly a month ago, on Sept. 16.

Apple says 50 percent of “active” users were on iOS 9 after just five days, though it appears they may have been somewhat optimistic in their claims — it looks as though Apple was only counting people who visited the App Store during that time frame, so those users who weren’t desperate to install some new software apps during the first week would’ve been excluded.

Now Localytics says the figure stands at 55 percent, with adoption rates faster than those for iOS 8 but still way behind iOS 7. In the last two weeks, the analytics firm says, adoption has slowed significantly — perhaps indicating that a lot of users are waiting for the early bugs to get ironed out. Since Sept. 16, Apple has released iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 to squash some of the bugs reported by users.

Localytics, which studied data from around 50 million iOS devices to come up with its figures, says adoption has been slowest in China, where only 36 percent of users have upgraded. Germany is top of the pile, with 64 percent of users in that country installing the new software (the figure for the U.S. stands at 57 percent).

Apple is always keen to point how fragmented the Android OS market is when compared with iOS, though of course it doesn’t have to deal with multiple handset models and manufacturer skins added by the likes of Samsung and HTC. It seems that while iOS 9 has proved more tempting to users than iOS 8, there are still plenty of people taking their time.

Editors' Recommendations

David Nield
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
The 7 biggest features we expect to see in iOS 18
The home screen on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

Apple revealed that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place on June 10. This is when we expect to see the next iteration of software across all of Apple’s products, including iOS 18.

From the sounds of it, we’re in for a big update with iOS 18, rumored to be one of the “biggest updates” yet. Here’s what we expect from Apple's next major iPhone update with iOS 18.
A more customizable home screen

Read more
This could be our first look at iOS 18’s huge redesign
An iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro standing upright on a desk.

While iOS 17 fell short on a visual overhaul, Apple is rumored to be working on an updated identity for its next iOS version. Previous reports have claimed that the upcoming iOS 18 will feature visionOS-like elements introduced on the Apple Vision Pro. A new report confirms this with a leaked image of the iOS 18 Camera app.

According to a report from MacRumors, the next version of the Camera app could feature visionOS-style design elements. It is based on an iPhone frame template that the publication received from an anonymous source who claimed to have received it from an iOS engineer. It is said to have been included as part of the Apple Design Resources for iOS 18.

Read more
10 reasons you should buy an iPhone in 2024
Purple iPhone 14 (left) and a green iPhone 15 in hand.

The iPhone 15 lineup — which includes the standard iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro — is the iPhone at its best. It's the latest series of iPhones available today and the default choice if you're buying a new iPhone in 2024.

But it’s not the only choice of iPhones you can purchase. In fact, Apple still sells the iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and the iPhone SE on its website. You could also find other iPhone models available – refurbished or new — from other retailers or carrier stores.

Read more