Initial reports suggested a surprisingly slow adoption rate for iOS 26, raising concerns among industry observers.However, a closer look reveals a more nuanced picture, and the data may be misleading. As of January 2026, statistics indicated that only 15-16% of active iPhones globally were running some version of iOS 26. Specifically, iOS 26.1 accounted for just over 10%, iOS 26.2 represented roughly 4-5%, and the original iOS 26.0 version had a minimal presence, exceeding 1%. Interestingly, over 60% of devices analyzed were still operating on iOS 18, with versions 18.7 and 18.6 being the most prevalent.
## Understanding the iOS 26 Adoption Rate
| iOS Version | Adoption Rate (January 2026) |
|---|---|
| iOS 26.0 | ~1% |
| iOS 26.1 | ~10% |
| iOS 26.2 | ~4-5% |
| iOS 18.7 & 18.6 | ~60% |
Initially, these figures appeared to signal a important setback. For comparison, iOS 18 reached over 60% adoption within four months of its release, while iOS 17 and iOS 16 both surpassed 50% during the same timeframe.
