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Android Distribution: A Look at Fragmentation Issues
It has been 16 years since the early days of reporting Android distribution numbers, a time when versions carried memorable dessert names like Froyo (Android 2.2), Eclair (Android 2.0), and KitKat (Android 4.4), thanks to a partnership with Nestle. Back then, fragmentation was a critical concern for the Android ecosystem, a challenge that persists today.
With numerous manufacturers producing Android devices, each adhering to different update schedules, the latest Android version is often absent from a significant portion of these devices. This fragmentation issue has led Google to pull back on regular monthly distribution reports, shifting to a quarterly schedule beginning in 2023. The latest distribution figures, released at the start of the current month, notably do not include Samsung models running Android 15.
As of April 1st, Android 15 was installed on just 4.5% of Android devices. This percentage covers stable versions across compatible Pixel models released last October, along with selected handsets from OnePlus and Nothing. In contrast, a majority of devices—27.4%—were running Android 14, which was made available in October 2023.
Currently, Android distribution statistics are published once or twice a year via Android Studio, calculated based on devices connecting to the Play Store within the past seven days.
Latest Distribution Numbers
Here are the latest numbers as reported by Google:
- Android 15.0 (V) – 4.5%
- Android 14.0 (U) – 27.4%
- Android 13.0 (T) – 16.8%
- Android 12.0 (S) – 13.8%
- Android 11.0 (R) – 15.9%
- Android 10.0 (Q) – 10.2%
- Android 9.0 (Pie) – 5.8%
- Android 8.1 (Oreo) – 3.0%
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) – 1.0%
- Android 7.1 (Nougat) – 0.6%
- Android 7.0 (Nougat) – 0.6%
- Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) – 0.7%
- Android 5.1 (Lollipop) – 0.5%
- Android 5.0 (Lollipop) – 0.1%
- Android 4.4 (KitKat) – 0.1%
This analysis implies that, without fragmentation, the latest Android 15 would likely appear on a broader array of devices. Anticipation builds for the stable release of Android 16, expected this June, compatible with models that include the Pixel 6 and earlier versions.
Source
www.phonearena.com