83% of Android devices now running OS 2.1 or higher

By on Dec 2, 2010 at 7:16 AM
Software December 2, 2010

Here’s a bit of good news for Android enthusiasts: as of December 1st, 83% of Android devices are now running OS version 2.1 or higher. The numbers, which come directly from Google’s developer analytics, show the progress the Big G is making in getting the wide-variety of handsets in market updated to newer code. As you can see from the above chart, the majority of handsets are now running Google’s latest mobile OS version, Android 2.2. While the nature of the mobile market will always be prohibitive to 100% of in-market devices on a single OS version, it is nice to see the lion’s share of handsets on a more recent, modern code — a favorite party-line of Android detractors is to call the platform “fragmented.” Hit the read link to check out the full article.

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23 Comments

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  • Donny

    I wish you would have released this later in the day. Not enough of the idiot fanboys are awake yet to flame this into oblivion.

  • Donny

    I also wanna add this is still kind of sad considering just about every android device came out only a year ago from around this time last year…except for the G1. So like it or not that is kind of fragmented, but I blame manufactures and carriers, not android or google.

    • kyle

      That’s just false.

      In the world of tech you cannot generalize a year with a standard deviation of a “few months.” The Mytouch 3G came out at the end of Summer for god sake. 3 months in tech is a decade in other product categories because of how quickly products peak and die. Android moves even more quickly than most tech products.

      Besides, HTC had a considerable army of android devices out there already (albeit most of them were less popular) a year and a few months ago. And, many companies had their devices far down the assembly line by this time last year.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2SQQCAN7ZQ4PGUKAY7NIMEWDUU cyberstoic

    That article states “is based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Android Market within a 14-day period ending…. 12/1/10″. The method of collection, while somewhat useful, still does not give a good statistical sample or accurate method of measuring.

    Those numbers may reflect those with higher OS’s access the market more, because their phones have more options because they are more capable. It is just as likely that fewer people on 1.6. and 1.5 do not access the market as much because they have had their devices longer and already loaded them up with apps; or that they perceive the market does not have much to offer them because of their older OS, etc. So while this report presents a pretty picture, it doesn’t really tell much about overall prevelance of a particular version of android in real use, just people accessing the market for whatever reason

    • Anonymous

      On the other hand, people accessing the market are the ones that most developers are building for.

  • i3GS

    Cool as an iphone owner not on the latest firmware (4.1)i congratulate google. For having so many different hardware they actually managed to get almost all systems upgrades to newer firmwares

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2SQQCAN7ZQ4PGUKAY7NIMEWDUU cyberstoic

      I agree with you. For google and many of the carriers to actually get upgrades to the users and upgrade these devices is amazing. Is this the new normal for smartphones? It used to be that you got a phone and that was it for the life of the device. Now I cannot wait for the upgrade.

  • RealDeal

    I am highly suspect ofg these numbers. Up here in Canada there are still a ton of devices where 2.1 isn’t even available yet.

    • Anonymous

      Given the population of Canada, you could have the entire nation on Android 1.6 and it would be about 10%…

  • Anonymous

    That IS fragmented. I would bet 90% of Apple users are on iOS 4.

    • Aaa

      Well, Even not a half of ppl have iOS4 now…

      • kyle

        Did somebody drop you on your head?

    • Anonymous

      Then you would lose that bet. It turns out iOS is more fragmented than Android. I guess the fanbois will now claim fragmentation is a good thing…

  • Guest

    So basically you guys read the article posted on engadget, and then post it here? Save yourself the effort of rewriting the post and just link back to them. Some of us come here to read something that wasn’t recycled from other sites…

  • GalaxyTab

    Great news but I still want my Gingerbread either way! :p

  • lolcat

    Hmm what about all the fragmentation caused by Blur, Touchwiz, Sense etc.

    I guess since Google doesn’t exert any direct control over their OS they don’t care about that kind of fragmentation…

    (I am an android owner BTW)

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2SQQCAN7ZQ4PGUKAY7NIMEWDUU cyberstoic

      That is a great point. As a former Samsung Behold 2 owner, who got whizzed on by samsung with an unupgradable device because of the touchwiz, I personally am not fond of the add on’s.

  • http://rmbo47.myopenid.com/ rmbo47

    I wonder where SonyEricsson users stand in that breakdown? Bwahahaha!

    Evo FTW!!1!

  • RH

    I’d rather Google take more ownership of the OS, and model the releases like Apple does.
    The problem with OS updates now, is that (in the USA market) you are at the mercy of the carrier, unless you seek out a place like XDA or Modoco

  • Wayne

    Just a nitpick: 43.4% is not a majority.

    • Anonymous

      Just a nitpick of your nitpick: the article said Android 2.1 or HIGHER, which would imply Android 2.1 and 2.2 – which combined are about 83%.

  • http://viettelonline.com/ USB 3G

    you can even talk to yourself

  • http://viettelonline.com USB 3G

    I actually completely agree with your opinion. It’s so perfect. I think it’s necessary for me. Thank for help!

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