These are Apple’s official iOS 16 usage metrics

For the first time since the release of iOS 16 last fall (2022), Apple has published usage figures for its operating systems. Are you part of the largest group? Find out here.

Statistics around iOS 16 and iPadOS 16

If there’s one thing Apple gets right, it’s making sure all of its devices have the most recent version of its software. For example, while Android 13 is only on a few percent of all Android phones worldwide, a new iOS often conquers half of all devices within the first weeks.

Now, for the first time, Apple has shared concrete percentages about which operating system runs on iPhones and iPads. The company has cleverly divided this into devices that have been introduced in the last 4 years, and all devices that are still actively in use. The figures are based on the use of the App Store on the devices. But in both cases the results are remarkable.

Also Read: iOS 16.4 Developer Beta Is Out: Here Are The Latest Features

So many percent of all iPhones have iOS 16 installed

We’ll start with the iPhones. According to Apple, 81% of all iPhones launched in the last 4 years run on iOS 16. Only 15% still work with iOS 15, and only 4% work with an even older version.

If you expand that to all iPhones that are actively used, then 72% are on iOS 16, 20% on iOS 15 and 8% on an older version. For convenience, we have listed the numbers below.

iOS devices from the past 4 years

• 81% iOS 16
• 15% iOS 15
• 4% even older

All iOS devices

• 72% iOS 16
• 20% iOS 15
• 8% even older

So many percent of all iPads have iPadOS 16 installed

With Apple’s tablets, however, a slightly different picture emerges, even though iPadOS 16 is also the leader of all versions here. Among the more recent devices (from the past 4 years), iPadOS 16 is on 53% of the devices that were active on the App Store. 39% are still running iPadOS 15 and 8% are using an older version.

If we look at all iPads, iPadOS 16 is on half of all tablets (50%). iPadOS 15 is installed at 37%, and 13% are using an even older version. Again you will find the overview below.

iPadOS devices from the past 4 years

• 53% iPadOS 16
• 39% iPadOS 15
• 4% even older

All iPadOS devices

• 50% iPad OS 16
• 37% iPadOS 15
• 13% even older

What does that say about how quickly people switch?

Apple has shared this data through its Developer portal. It’s also the first time Apple has shared it for iOS 16. There are some notable things compared to past years. For example, the statistics of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 were announced a month earlier.

But the current figures do show that apparently more people have already switched than a year ago. At that time, Apple was talking about 72% already using iOS 15, while we are already at 81%. Even with the month of extra time, that’s quite a bit more.

However, iPadOS 16 is a bit disappointing in terms of the number of people who have switched. But we have to bear in mind that the operating system for the iPad was released a month later than usual (October instead of September).

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