iOS 11, Apple’s mobile operating system, has been out since September 2017, and as of May 31 of this year, 81 percent of active iOS devices have adopted it.
The Cupertino, California-based company frequently updates the number of devices on its OS based on App Store data, and the latest numbers as of May 2018 claim that 81 percent of active iOS devices run some version of iOS 11. As for iOS 10, usage has been halved since February 2018, with only 14 percent of devices running the older the operating system. Meanwhile, only 5 percent of active devices are using an even earlier version.
It’s great news for Apple, as the overwhelming majority of devices are staying on its most up-to-date software less than a year after launch. The good news doesn’t stop there either, as Apple has announced at WWDC 2018 — its annual developer conference — that all devices that received the iOS 11 update would also be receiving an update to iOS 12.
The eventual update to iOS 12 will see a swathe of updates for the largest variety of Apple devices everywhere, with the 5-year-old iPhone 5S being the oldest device to receive the update. You can check out our full iOS 12 rundown for the full list of features, but iOS owners everywhere can expect to see their device’s performance increase, and will receive long overdue updates to a host of apps, including Photos, News, and Stocks.
iOS 11 is currently available for download on all 64-bit iPhone and iPad devices and apps, but 32-bit devices like the iPhone 5C and the iPad Mini are not compatible and can be effectively assumed to be out of commission for further updates.
With iOS 11, users see incremental changes ranging from a redesigned Control Center and notifications, along with additional photo effects akin to Live Photos. As far as new features go, Apple introduced peer-to-peer transactions with Apple Pay, and Files — a new file management system. The update also includes ARKit, which will allow developers to build or bring fluid augmented reality apps to iOS.
The App Store also looks drastically different from the update as well. It showcases apps in ways that are more recognizable, such as editors’ choices, top picks, and reviews to help navigate based on user experience and popularity. The new “Today” tab refreshes each day, highlighting games and apps of the day while also featuring original stories from Apple’s editors.
Even though a large number of devices are up-to-date, this doesn’t mean iOS 11 operates flawlessly. In the months since it’s been released, users have reported a variety of issues which Apple has been working to improve by releasing consistent updates.
Apple maintains tight control over its operating system and hardware, which allows the company to see high adoption rates of its latest software. Google’s Android version updates, on the other hand, have to be released by a myriad of manufacturers and then by carriers if the device is locked.
Updated on June 5: We’ve updated this article with the latest iOS distribution numbers.