- Before WWDC 2025, Apple Share of installation statistics for iOS 18 and iPados 18
- If you have not yet installed iOS 18, you are in the smallest group, because it represents 82% of all eligible devices
- Apple does not guarantee a number of years for software updates for its devices
Have you used iOS 18 on your iPhone since its release in September? Or maybe you are in the camp to wait a little upgrade until friends or family do it, or you read the reactions of those who tested it.
Well, whatever the camp in which you are, iOS 18 of Apple – and iPados 18, the operating system of the iPad – has officially eight months. Although it is not a year, the conference of the global developer in 2025 of the company started on Monday June 9, with an opening speech. We await the revelation of the next generation of iOS and other platforms.
In the days preceding this event, Apple shares the final use numbers of iOS 18 and iPados 18. Although the technology giant does not promise a specific number of years for software updates and equally essential security updates, iOS 18 supports up to iPhone XR / XS, and iPados 18 works on the iPad 7th Gen, iPad Mini Gen, iPad Pro 1st and iPad Air 1 Gen.
It is a wide range of supported devices, and for iOS 18, 82% of all eligible iOS devices work the last and largest in Apple. With regard to the eligible devices published in the past four years, the installation rate is higher: 88%. Meanwhile, 71% of all iPads that can execute iPados 18 have installed it, and iPad published in the past four years have an installation ratio of approximately 81%.
IOS 18 and iPados 18 have also been very large updates – for my part, it began the rolling launch of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 in October 2024, but that remains incomplete, and the SIRI fueled by AI much awaited is still delayed. You can use features such as Genmoji, Image Playground, writing tools and visual intelligence on eligible iPhones or iPads that support Apple Intelligence.
Beyond this suite, however, iOS 18 broke the so -called applications, allowing you to place applications where you want – even with spaces between the two – on the iPhone and the iPad. It also allows you to adjust the color or tone of the whole of your home screen, including application icons. The Photos Application has been redesigned and added personalization, but was not loved by everyone. In addition, Apple finally added the management of RCS messaging, as well as to rework the arrangement of the control center.
It was a solid and important version for iOS and iPados, which even obtained smaller updates and is currently seated in iOS 18.5 and iPados 18.5. Many features work on devices as far as the iPhone XR, although the overall speed and battery life can vary.
So, if you have not yet updated on iOS 18 and you are on iPhone, Apple’s latest numbers put you in the smallest group. It is not a bad thing, but it is a good idea to keep your phone up to date beyond the new features, because the confidentiality and security updates are also included in these updates.
But how is it compared to Android phones? As I wrote above, Apple does not guarantee a delay, but you can see that it dates back six years for iPhones, because the XS was released in 2018.
Samsung now guarantees most of its range of Galaxy phones for seven years of software upgrading, while Google Pixel phones receive five years of updates for Pixel 6 and Plus, which increases to seven years for Pixel 7 and more recent. This means that if you get a Pixel 9, you can expect updates until 2031.
According to the model, Motorola offers three years of major updates to the operating system plus an additional year of security updates. OnePlus offers four years of SG and security updates on its eponymous flagship phones.
Although we expected new versions of iOS and iPados at WWDC 2025, the rumor mill did not only mention Apple promising a specific number of years of software and confidentiality updates. It could happen, but I think the emphasis will be on the very rugged offense of a pro-comment vision for the rest of the platforms-think vitreous and elegant throughout.
