Google has released its latest Android distribution figures, and the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android Lollipop, is now on 5.4% of devices. This marks a significant increase from the previous month, where Lollipop was on just over 3% of devices.
Android 5.0 Lollipop has a distribution of 5%, while the recently released Android 5.1 Lollipop has a distribution of 0.4%. This incremental growth indicates that more users are gradually updating their devices to the latest versions of Android, benefiting from the new features and improvements that Lollipop offers.
Android KitKat and Jelly Bean Distribution
Android KitKat is now on 41.4 percent of all Android devices, making it the most widely used version of the OS. This is a notable achievement for KitKat, which has now overtaken Jelly Bean. Android Jelly Bean, which was previously the most popular version, is now on 40.7 percent of devices. The close competition between KitKat and Jelly Bean highlights the fragmentation within the Android ecosystem, where multiple versions of the OS are in use simultaneously.
Older Android Versions
In addition to Lollipop, KitKat, and Jelly Bean, several older versions of Android are still in use. Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is on 5.7% of devices, while Android Gingerbread is on 6.4%. Even the much older Android Froyo is still present on 0.4% of devices. The persistence of these older versions underscores the challenges Google faces in ensuring that users upgrade to the latest versions of Android.
One of the reasons for this fragmentation is the diverse range of devices that run Android. Unlike Apple’s iOS, which is limited to a few models of iPhones and iPads, Android is used by a multitude of manufacturers, each with their own customizations and update schedules. This diversity can lead to delays in rolling out updates, as manufacturers need to ensure compatibility with their specific hardware and software configurations.
Another factor contributing to the slow adoption of newer Android versions is the role of mobile carriers. Carriers often add their own layers of testing and approval before updates can be pushed to users, further delaying the process. This multi-step update process contrasts sharply with Apple’s more streamlined approach, where updates are pushed directly to users without carrier intervention.
Despite these challenges, Google continues to innovate and release new versions of Android, each with enhanced features, improved security, and better performance. For instance, Android Lollipop introduced a new design language called Material Design, which brought a more cohesive and visually appealing user interface. It also included improvements in battery life through Project Volta and better notifications management.
As Google prepares to release future versions of Android, it will be interesting to see how the distribution figures evolve. Will newer versions like Android Lollipop eventually surpass KitKat and Jelly Bean in popularity? Only time will tell. For now, the latest distribution figures provide a snapshot of the current state of the Android ecosystem, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement.
Source Google
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