Despite early troubles, everyone is updating to iOS 10
Apple's iOS 10 is now used more than any other version of the operating system.
More than half of iOS devices have already upgraded to the latest software, according to new numbers from Apple.
The update is now installed on 54% of devices, according to stats posted on Apple's developer site. Last year's iOS 9 accounts for 38% of devices while just 8% of devices are running iOS 8 or earlier.
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These numbers are a little below estimates from third parties like analytics firm Mixpanel, which pegs iOS 10 adoption at around 67%. But Apple's numbers, which rely on App Store visits, are likely more accurate.
The quick adoption of iOS 10 is impressive either way you look at it. Consider this: the update, which was released less than a month ago, is already the most widely used version of iOS despite some early issues with the rollout. (All those new iMessage features likely boosted its popularity.)
The numbers are particularly impressive when you compare them to Android, whose users are always much slower to adopt new software. Android Marshmallow, which was released last year, is currently installed on just 18.7% of Android devices, according to Google's September estimates. And 2014's Lollipop release accounts for the highest share of devices operating systems, at 35%. Android Nougat, which was released earlier this year, runs on less than .1% of devices, according to the company.
The disparity between iOS and Android software is due to a number of factors, including that Apple controls the distribution of iOS while Google only controls Android releases for its Nexus (and, soon, Pixel) line. Instead, Google relies on carriers and manufacturers to make operating system updates available, which significantly slows down the process. Android Nougat, for instance, is only officially available on Nexus and the newly-launched LG V20.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
