Recent reports on iOS 26 installation rates have sparked considerable debate, with initial figures indicating significantly lower adoption rates compared to previous versions of the iPhone operating system. The theory that the primary reason for this decline is user aversion to Apple's new "liquid glass" interface quickly gained traction.
According to Statcounter data for January, the various iOS 26 versions are running on only about 16.6% of iPhones, compared to nearly 70% for iOS 18. The data also showed that iOS 18.7 alone, released alongside iOS 26 to provide security updates without upgrading to the new system, is running on approximately one-third of iOS devices.
These figures have been widely circulated, presenting a compelling narrative that the "liquid glass" design has deterred users from updating. However, a deeper analysis of digital traffic, along with the technical changes Apple introduced in iOS 26, reveals that this picture may be largely misleading.
An Alternative Analysis of Usage Volume
Condé Nast analyzed iPhone traffic across its platforms during October, November, and December 2025, comparing it to the same period in 2024. The results show that iOS 26 adoption is indeed slower than iOS 18 adoption in its first year, but not as drastically as Statcounter data suggests.
In December 2024, approximately 76% of page views came from devices running iOS 18, while this figure dropped to around 45% for iOS 26 in December 2025. While the difference is significant, it remains less extreme than the figures commonly cited.
Part of this slowdown is explained by technical factors, most notably that iOS 26 ended support for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR released in 2018, while iOS 18 was compatible with all devices that supported iOS 17.
A subtle change that confused benchmarking tools
The most significant reason behind the misleading statistics is a change Apple made to the Safari browser in iOS 26. The company decided to fix the iOS version number in the “user agent” string at version 18, a move intended to limit browser fingerprinting and enhance privacy.
As a result, most iPhones running iOS 26 and using Safari appear, to analytics tools like Statcounter, as if they are running iOS 18.6 or 18.7. Since the majority of iOS users rely on Safari, these tools only actually track users of third-party browsers like Chrome and Edge, which still display the true iOS version.
In other words, Statcounter inadvertently measures the percentage of Chrome users who have upgraded to iOS 26, not the total number of users of the new system. A More Accurate Indicator of Adoption
To overcome this issue, researchers relied on the Safari version itself rather than the operating system version. Safari 26 only runs on iOS 26, making it a more accurate indicator of system adoption.
Based on this metric, adoption rates in the first month didn't differ significantly between iOS 18 and iOS 26, reaching approximately 25% in October 2024 compared to 22% in October 2025. However, the gap widened later, suggesting that average users are more hesitant to upgrade, rather than early adopters.
Is this worrying for Apple?
Historically, iOS adoption rates stabilize around 80% to 90% after a period of time following release. iOS 18 reached approximately 91% by August 2025. If iOS 26 eventually reaches levels close to this range, the current slowdown shouldn't be a major cause for concern. However, if it settles significantly lower, it could indicate a long-term rejection of some system changes, most notably the Liquid Glass interface. Why might an update become necessary?
Aside from the design controversy, Apple has begun restricting full security updates to devices capable of running iOS 26. Devices that don't support the new system, such as the iPhone XR, are the only ones still receiving iOS 18 updates. Newer devices will need to be upgraded sooner or later to maintain security and fix vulnerabilities.
While Apple has traditionally provided temporary security updates for the previous version after releasing a new one, this policy doesn't last indefinitely. Over time, the transition to the latest system becomes inevitable.
Greater flexibility with Liquid Glass
In response to criticism, Apple added options in iOS 26.1 and 26.2 to reduce the transparency of the Liquid Glass interface and increase contrast, along with improvements to elements like the lock screen clock and Safari settings. Users can also utilize accessibility options to mitigate the effects of motion and transparency.
These adjustments may not satisfy all those who oppose the new design, but they do make the transition to iOS 26 less jarring. With the increasing importance of security updates, the question no longer seems to be whether a user will update their system, but when they will do so.
