Google’s latest Lollipop operating system is now installed on 18.1% of all Android devices.
That’s according to data collected by Google during a 7-day period ending on August 3, 2015.
The information is based on devices running on Android 2.2 and above accessing the Google Play store.
Android 5.0 and 5.1 Lollipop OS are the latest versions of Google’s mobile operating system.
However, the software is still less prevalent than some of its predecessors, namely KitKat and Jelly Bean.
But why is Lollipop uptake so slow? It’s largely due to the massive fragmentation of the Android platform.
Unlike Apple’s iOS, Android can’t be directly installed onto devices by Google.
Instead, the software goes through manufacturers and carriers, which lengthens the journey from Google to handset significantly.
Here’s the full roster of changes from June 1 to August 3:
- Froyo: 0.3% to 0.3%
- Gingerbread: 5.6% to 4.6%
- Ice Cream Sandwich: 5.1% to 4.1%
- Jelly Bean 4.1.X: 14.7% to 13.0%
- Jelly Bean 4.2.X: 17.5% to 15.9%
- Jelly Bean 4.3.X: 5.2% to 4.7%
- KitKat: 39.2% to 39.3%
- Lollipop 5.0.X: 11.6% to 15.5%
- Lollipop 5.1.X: 0.8% to 2.6%
Related: Android M vs iOS 9
Google is set to add another name to that list shortly, with the release of its recently announced Android M software.
That’s expected to land at some point this autumn, although an exact release date is yet to be confirmed.
If all this Android talk has got you hankering for a new handset, check out our smartphone group test video below:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
