It looks like iOS 26 isn't catching on as quickly as previous versions, according to some recent data. I've been following these updates for years, and usually, you see a much faster jump to the newest software. But this time around, many iPhone users are sticking with their older iOS 18 versions.

According to StatCounter, only about 15-16% of iPhones worldwide are running some flavor of iOS 26. When you break it down, iOS 26.1 is on roughly 10.6% of devices, iOS 26.2 on about 4.6%, and the original iOS 26.0 release is barely clinging to 1.1%. It's kind of strange, really. To give you an idea, over 60% of iPhones are still running iOS 18! What's going on?

When you look at past releases, the difference is striking. At a similar point after its launch, iOS 18 was running on about 63% of iPhones. iOS 17 hit around 54%, and iOS 16 was even higher, surpassing 60%. iOS 26's adoption rate is significantly lower than its predecessors.

The data comes from web traffic analytics, which tracks operating system versions based on page views. While Apple hasn't released official numbers, the information points to a certain hesitation among users to upgrade to iOS 26. I think there are a few reasons why this might be the case.

One major factor could be the redesign itself. iOS 26 brought in "Liquid Glass," a big visual change that replaces the solid interface with see-through layers and blurry backgrounds. It's a pretty dramatic shift, and honestly, it didn't get the warmest reception when it was first shown off.

Also, Apple's now offering security updates for older operating systems. People can stick with iOS 18 and still get crucial security fixes. In other words, there's no immediate need to update if you don't want to. For example, my brother usually upgrades right away, but he's pretty happy with his current setup, so he's waiting to see how things shake out. That definitely contributes to the slower adoption rate.