Google has released its latest Android distribution figures, and Android Oreo is now on 0.5% of Android smartphones, tablets, and other devices. The figures cover the 7-day period up to the 11th of December 2017 and do not include any distribution less than 0.1%.
Android Nougat and Its Growth
The previous version of Google’s mobile OS, Android Nougat, is now on 23.3 percent of devices, up from 20.6% back in November. This growth indicates a steady adoption rate as more manufacturers and users transition to newer versions of the operating system. Nougat introduced several key features such as split-screen mode, improved notifications, and enhanced battery optimization, which have been well-received by users and developers alike.
Distribution of Older Android Versions
Android Marshmallow remains the most widely used version, on 29.7 percent of devices. This version brought significant improvements in app permissions, Doze mode for better battery life, and Google Now on Tap. Despite being released in 2015, its features have kept it relevant and widely used.
Android Lollipop is on 26.3 percent of devices. Released in 2014, Lollipop introduced the Material Design language, which has since become a staple of Android’s visual and interactive design. It also brought improvements in notifications and battery life with Project Volta.
Android KitKat, which was released in 2013, is still on 13.4 percent of devices. KitKat was notable for its optimization to run on devices with as little as 512 MB of RAM, making it a popular choice for budget smartphones.
This is then followed by Jelly Bean, which is on 5.9 percent of devices. Jelly Bean, released between 2012 and 2013, introduced features like Google Now, expandable notifications, and smoother performance with Project Butter.
Android ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) and Gingerbread are both on less than 0.5%. These versions are now considered outdated, with most users having moved on to more recent versions that offer better security, performance, and features.
Challenges in Android Fragmentation
The distribution figures highlight the ongoing challenge of Android fragmentation. Unlike iOS, where updates are rolled out simultaneously to all devices, Android updates depend on device manufacturers and carriers. This leads to a slower and more fragmented adoption of new versions. Fragmentation can pose security risks, as older versions may not receive critical updates and patches.
However, Google has been working to address this issue with initiatives like Project Treble, introduced in Android Oreo. Project Treble aims to make it easier and faster for manufacturers to update devices to newer versions of Android by separating the vendor implementation from the Android OS framework.
You can see the latest Android Distribution figures for December at Google’s Android Developers website at the link below.
Source Android Developers
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