iOS 26 Shows Unusually Slow Adoption Months After Release [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Update: As noted by Nick Heer on his Pixel Envy blog, analytics data is unreliable because Safari on iOS 26 is reporting a different operating system version in the user agent string that analytics services rely on for data. For example, devices on several versions of iOS 26 are reporting themselves as being on iOS 18.7 when using Safari. The relatively low number of mobile devices correctly reporting themselves as being on iOS 26 are largely from users on alternative browsers such as Chrome.

Our original report follows below but the conclusions are incorrect due to Apple's change in how Safari reports itself in iOS 26.



iOS 26 is showing unusually slow adoption among iPhone users months after release, according to third-party analytics.

Usage data published by StatCounter (via Cult of Mac) for January 2026 indicates that only around 15 to 16% of active iPhones worldwide are running any version of iOS 26. The breakdown shows iOS 26.1 accounting for approximately 10.6% of devices, iOS 26.2 for about 4.6%, and the original iOS 26.0 release at roughly 1.1%. In contrast, more than 60% of iPhones tracked by StatCounter remain on iOS 18, with iOS 18.7 and iOS 18.6 alone representing a majority of active devices.

Historical comparisons highlight how atypical this adoption curve appears. StatCounter data from January 2025 shows that roughly 63% of iPhones were running some version of iOS 18 about four months after its release. In January 2024, iOS 17 had reached approximately 54% adoption over a similar timeframe, while iOS 16 surpassed 60% adoption by January 2023.

Based on those figures, iOS 26 adoption appears to be running at less than one-quarter of the rate achieved by recent predecessors during the same post-release window. StatCounter derives its estimates from web traffic analytics, tracking operating system versions via page impressions across its global network of participating websites.

In the first week of January last year, 89.3% of MacRumors visitors used a version of iOS 18. This year, during the same time period, only 25.7% of MacRumors readers are running a version of iOS 26. In the absence of official numbers from Apple, the true adoption rate remains unknown, but the data suggests a level of hesitation toward iOS 26 that has not been seen in recent years.

Unlike many previous releases, iOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass as a fundamental visual overhaul, replacing large portions of the traditional opaque interface with translucent layers, blurred backgrounds, and dynamic depth effects across system elements. Upon its announcement at WWDC last year, the redesign received mixed reviews, which could be a contributing factor to hesitation around upgrading.

Likewise, Apple now continues to support older operating systems with security updates, allowing users to remain on iOS 18 without immediate pressure to update or forfeit critical patches. This makes it much easier for users to remain on older software.

Article Link: iOS 26 Shows Unusually Slow Adoption Months After Release [Updated]

 

[SoyMaxV]

I wonder why...

 

[ghostface147]

Probably because the masses hear about how bad it is visually. I have no issues with it.

 

[tyr2]

shockedpikachu.gif

 

[Biro]

File this one under… DUH!

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

If only I could switch back to 18.

 

[Palliser]

Fix battery drain

 

[Sputman99]

Could it be that its broken and awful

 

[Rlittle89]

I feel like iOS 26 is the worst overhaul Apple has released to date. Not sure who ran it through any kind of accessibility testing but liquid glass (Including the feature to tone it down a bit) completely falls short. I've had a lot of bugginess with the keyboard and I've done all I can to make it more usable. I've had nothing but iPhones since the 3Gs and I've never been closer to switching to a competitor like the latest Pixel or something. It's really unfortunate.

 

[P-DogNC]

I jumped right in as soon as possible with iOS 26 and Tahoe and iPadOS 26, etc. and I've had no problems. I enjoy the interface.

 

[firstcitazen]

NSS

 

[turbineseaplane]

Here's my shocked face.

Actually, that might be liquid glass behind Kirk now that I look at it more.

Nah ... the corners aren't overly rounded on anything.
It does have the Fisher Price color scheme though.

 

[rp2011]

Oh wow. You mean to tell me people don't want a worse UI and fancy AI?

 

[c84216]

I wonder what they're using for these analytics. I'm on 26.2 but seen some apps that think I'm on 18.7. The OS might have to report out a false version to avoid breaking some analytics tools since there was a jump from 18 to 26.

 

[dannyyankou]

For all the negativity about iOS 26, iOS 7 was so much worse.

I actually don't mind iOS 26. But that's just me.

 

[matt_and_187_like_this]

i am honestly surprised it doesnt auto update to the latest os. You literally have to manually enable switching. My mom ist still not on 26 and it's the only reason.

 

[turbineseaplane]

For all the negativity about iOS 26, iOS 7 was so much worse.

I actually don't mind iOS 26. But that's just me.

You know it's bad when we are saying "at least it's not as bad as iOS 7".

oof.

😮‍💨

 

[aonez]

Numbers don’t lie. Just stop bringing half backed OSs and give us 18.7.3 and newer updates on all supported devices.

 

[Jmausmuc]

I think it’s due to how Apple seems to have chosen to distribute it. They seem to not force it on people like usual.

I am an iPhone nerd so I can easily tell that most people around me are also still on iOS18. I asked a few of them and none of them was aware of the update or could remember actively declining it.

Most of these people actually had auto updates turned on yet the iPhone was not installing ios26.

They all had to manually go to the settings menu to manually select and install it.

 

[mxrider88]

No wonder, it’s a piece of crap

 

[arthurgd3]

Probably because the masses hear about how bad it is visually. I have no issues with it.

I have it on my work iPhone and it's making me wanna use the phone even less than on iOS 18. Readability is still very much an issue with so many inconsistent visual elements depending on the app or certain sections you happen to find yourself since the transparency of buttons vary when you're scrolling or moving about the screen.

 

[Boazzjo]

color me jaded, but I for one am tired having to relearn UI every year. It's a phone. It used to "just work."

 

[les_is_more]

iOS 26 is actually fine (and some new features are actually quite useful). It is macOS Tahoe I abhorred

 

[klasma]

In the first week of January last year, 89.3% of MacRumorsvisitors used a version of iOS 18. This year, during the same time period, only 25.7% of MacRumors readers are running a version of iOS 26.

MacRumors readers aren’t easily fooled.

 

[Octavius8]

Slow, buggy and visually harder to use.
No real benefits, marketed as basically a skin.
AI in Apple devices is worse than null and people knows it (everywhere you see that other phones can remove subjects from photos and do impressive AI edits, while IOS does a nightmarish job at it! And is barely marketed).