Apple has released the latest iOS and iPadOS usage statistics, providing insight into adoption rates across active devices as of mid-February 2026. The data, measured from devices that transacted on the App Store on February 12, 2026, shows strong uptake of the newest major versions — iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 — particularly among more recent hardware.
Strong Adoption Among Recent Devices
For iPhones introduced in the last four years, 74% are now running iOS 26. This represents the majority of newer devices, with 20% still on iOS 18 and 6% on earlier versions. This high rate among recent models highlights Apple’s consistent ability to drive updates on supported, newer hardware, where compatibility and performance optimizations encourage quick transitions to the latest software.
Among all iPhone devices (including older models), 66% are on iOS 26, with 24% remaining on iOS 18 and 10% on earlier versions. The overall figure demonstrates solid progress for iOS 26, which appears to have launched in late 2025, building a substantial user base within months.
iPadOS Shows Similar Trends, Slightly Lower Overall
On the iPad side, adoption mirrors the iPhone pattern but with modestly lower overall penetration. For iPads introduced in the last four years, 66% run iPadOS 26, followed by 28% on iPadOS 18 and 6% on earlier versions.
Across all iPad devices, 57% are updated to iPadOS 26, with 26% on iPadOS 18 and 17% lingering on earlier releases. The gap between recent-device and all-device adoption is slightly wider on iPad, potentially reflecting longer replacement cycles for tablets compared to smartphones, as well as varying user priorities for updates on larger-screen devices.
These figures come directly from Apple’s developer support page for the App Store, which regularly publishes version distribution data to help developers prioritize compatibility and feature targeting. The stats focus on devices actively transacting on the App Store, offering a reliable proxy for engaged users.
Apple’s mobile operating systems continue to lead in rapid version adoption compared to many competing platforms, with two-thirds or more of recent devices already on the latest releases. As iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 introduce new features, security enhancements, and performance improvements, these numbers suggest developers can increasingly focus on the newest SDKs while still supporting a meaningful portion of users on iOS 18 / iPadOS 18.
MacDailyNews Take: The data underscores Apple’s ecosystem strength in pushing timely updates, even as some older devices remain on prior versions due to hardware limitations or user choice.
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