iOS 26 adoption appears split as trackers report conflicting usage figures

Months after Apple released iOS 26, adoption looks unusually slow and uneven, with third-party trackers reporting sharply different results. StatCounter's web-traffic data shows only about 16% of iPhones running iOS 26 four months after release and more than 60% still on iOS 18; in the US, StatCounter said roughly three-quarters of iPhones and iPads remained on iOS 18 at the end of 2025 and iOS 26 had under a 10% share.

By contrast, TelemetryDeck, which gathers anonymized app usage via its SDK, reported roughly 60% of active devices running iOS 26 at the start of 2026 and about 37% on iOS 18. ZDNET notes the discrepancy stems from methodology: StatCounter measures Safari-reported versions from web visits, while TelemetryDeck reflects apps using its SDK, and each method has its own biases.

Apple has not published official iOS 26 adoption numbers, so the outlet says the true rate likely lies between those extremes. Social media reaction is mixed and may be slowing upgrades. ZDNET highlights complaints about iOS 26's new "Liquid Glass" interface, reports of bugs, battery and performance issues, and a lack of standout features beyond the design.

Key Topics

Tech, Statcounter, Telemetrydeck, Liquid Glass, Apple