iOS 18 Adoption Reaches 68% Among iPhone Users

About 68% of all iPhones now run iOS 18, compared to 76% for models released in the last four years, according to the latest statistics from Apple.

It doesn’t seem like users are in a hurry to upgrade and experience Apple’s latest suite of generative AI products, Apple Intelligence. The adoption numbers for iOS 18 are about the same as iOS 17 this time last year, just 2% higher, 9to5Mac points this out.

iPad users are also generally in no rush to download the latest operating system. Just over half (53%) of all iPads use iPadOS 18, which rises to 63% for tablets released in the last four years. A notable cohort of 10% of users are still using operating systems older than iPadOS 17. iOS 18 was released in October 2024, followed by iOS 18.2 in Decemberbringing AI-powered writing tools, a ChatGPT Integration, typing ability on Siriand notification summaries (which had high-profile malfunctions).

It also introduced a much more customizable interface than previous versions of iOS, allowing users to customize their iPhone’s home and lock screens more freely than before. Additionally, it brought a redesigned and more advanced Photos app, as well as Rich Communication Services (RCS)making it easier for iPhone users to share photos with Android users.

Apple is expected to release iOS 18.3 next week, which will include additional Apple Intelligence features, such as the introduction of Visual Intelligence. This feature will allow users to identify plants and animals by pointing their phone’s camera at them, and it can even help identify potential allergens. Apple Intelligence will be enabled by defaultalthough users have the option to unsubscribe.

The deployment of Apple Intelligence may not have stimulated interest significantly among smartphone buyers in general; Global iPhone sales fell 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to IDC data, capturing 23.2% of the overall market.