iOS 18 Adoption Rate Surges Past iOS 17, Driven by Smart New Features

iOS 18 Smashes iOS 17 Adoption Rates with Lightning Speed

Apple users have spoken-iOS 18 is a massive hit. According to the latest official data from Apple, iOS 18 has already surpassed iOS 17’s adoption rate during the same post-release period last year

. As of now, a remarkable 88% of iPhones released in the past four years (starting from iPhone 13 onward) are running iOS 18. Overall, 82% of all active iPhones have been updated to the latest OS.

Just a few months ago, in January, those numbers were lower: 76% for newer iPhones and 68% for all iPhones. The jump shows strong and growing enthusiasm for the latest features packed into iOS 18.

The iPad is seeing a similar trend. iPadOS 18 is currently installed on 81% of iPads released in the last four years and on 71% of all active iPads-again, outpacing last year’s iPadOS 17 rollout, which had reached 77% and 68% adoption respectively by the same time.

So, what’s driving this rapid uptake? Features powered by Apple Intelligence are likely to thank-innovations like the new Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, and smart notification summaries have made iOS 18 an attractive update. Although the anticipated Siri overhaul didn’t arrive with this version, Apple still delivered enough upgrades to excite users.

One key reason users upgrade quickly is Apple’s stellar track record for software support. Even older iPhones often receive the same iOS updates as the latest models-sometimes with limited features due to hardware constraints, but still with major enhancements and security patches. It’s this long-term value that helps Apple users stay loyal to their devices longer than the competition.

That’s something Android has struggled to match. With multiple manufacturers, custom UI skins, and hardware variations, the Android 15 rollout-especially Samsung’s One UI 7-has been comparatively sluggish. It’s a reminder that Apple’s tight ecosystem offers consistency many Android users can only dream of.

Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to unveil its next OS at WWDC 2025. The new version may skip iOS 19 entirely and leap to iOS 26, possibly aligning with the year 2026. Whispers suggest a significant visual redesign and a more advanced user experience. If rumors hold true, iPhone 11 might be the oldest model compatible with this upcoming release.

Personally, that’s why I stick with iPhones. Even my older device runs fast, gets new features, and feels up-to-date-without needing to upgrade every year. It’s not just about the phone, but the whole experience Apple provides that keeps me (and millions of others) locked into the ecosystem.