After Android 12, Google launched Android 13 in its stable version and then Android 14. However, it’s always good to ask yourself which version of Android is the most used in 2024. Note that Android 15 is in development.
To answer that, let’s take a look at Android Studio. A software that supports developers designing mobile applications for the Google-powered OS. An infographic is hidden in this tool and it is updated more or less regularly. Through this source, we can know the fragmentation of Android.
The podium is completed by Android 11 R, second with 21.6% and Android 10 Q positioned in third place with 16.1%. Android 12 S is only fourth in this ranking. As for Android 14, this version is not so slowThe slow rollout of new versions of Android is often pointed out. When compared to Apple’s quick updates on iOS, there is indeed a huge fossé.re listed.
This is partly due to the fact that, when a new version of Android is made available by Google’s teams, other smartphone manufacturers using this OS must take the time to deploy it on each of their devices. This necessarily implies additional delays. Apple doesn’t have this problem since it deploys its proprietary OS on its own iPhones.
A problem that needs to be nuanced
While criticism of Android’s fragmentation is often justified, it should also be tempered.
In-house interfaces
Indeed, let’s remember that a large number of Android devices benefit from in-house interfaces: One UI for Samsung, MIUI for Xiaomi, ColorOS for Oppo, etc.
The features offered by these interfaces are often not perfectly aligned with those deployed by Google on Android. Thus, it often happens that a manufacturer offers an option before it arrives on a major update of the operating system.
For example, many smartphones were already taking advantage of Dark Mode or Screen Recorder before Google integrated it by default on Android.
You should also be aware that the slow rollout of new versions of Android does not prevent applications from remaining compatible with older versions. That’s because Android is designed so that developers can continue to run their apps on 90% of the fleet.
Most apps, no matter how popular and continuously updated they are, do not require an ultra-recent version of Android to work. Spotify, TikTok and Call of Duty Mobile require at least Android 5.0.