Most of Android Users Use Unsafe Android Version
Current figures from Google show that the majority of Android users use unsafe versions of the operating system. At the same time, not even five percent of all devices with Android 15 run. However, there could be a simply explanation.
Outdated Android versions dominate the market
The latest statistics for the Android distribution are drawn in a worrying picture. Because while Android 15 can come up with numerous new functions and safety improvements, only a fraction of the user uses the current version. Only 4.5 percent of all Android devices run on the latest operating system, which was published in September 2024.
These numbers are based on data that Google (via 9to5google) raised on April 1, 2025. The most used version is Android 14 with a share of 27.4 percent, followed by Android 13 with 16.8 percent. It is particularly alarming that over half of all Android users use versions, for which Google no longer provides security updates. These include the Android 12 (12.8 percent), Android 11 (15.9 percent), Android 10 (10.2 percent) and even older versions. Even Android 9 is even more common at 5.8 percent than the current version 15.
Samsung as a decisive factor for distribution
The low distribution degree of Android 15 could be due to the time of data collection. As of April 1, Samsung, as the largest Android smartphone manufacturer, had not yet started to broaden the update to One UI 7 (based on Android 15). Only the Galaxy S25 series and some new mid-range models were already equipped with the latest version.
The large distribution to other Samsung devices only started on April 7, but had to be stopped for a short time. In the meantime, the Korean manufacturer has continued the delivery, which is likely to increase the proportion of Android 15 significantly in the coming months.
Fragmentation remains a permanent problem
The fragmentation of the Android ecosystem is a long-known problem. Even devices with Android 4.4 (Kitkat) appear in the current statistics, a version that was published over a decade ago. This extreme fragmentation not only complicates the development of apps, but above all represents a significant security risk.
While many users are still waiting for the update to Android 15, Android 16 is already the next version in the starting blocks. Google plans the publication for June 2025, with the in-house pixel smartphones being operated as usual. Samsung could react faster this time. According to rumors, the first Galaxy devices are to be equipped with Android 16 and One UI 8 in July.
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