If you happen to personal an Android smartphone, chances are high you aren’t getting the newest model of the cellular working system. In actual fact, the distribution of Android variations reveals that fragmentation continues to be vital regardless of Google’s efforts to scale back it.
Android is the most well-liked cellular working system on the planet, but in addition probably the most fragmented. A scenario that appears to be creating very slowly and for which, sadly, Google nonetheless doesn’t appear to have discovered an answer.
If you happen to don’t have the newest Android model, you’re not alone
The most recent figures on the unfold of Android variations have fallen. These date Might 30, 2023 and are unflattering to Google and its companions. Nonetheless, as Mishaal Rahman identified in a tweet, the variety of smartphones working Android 13 has virtually tripled since January 2023 and is now at 15%.
Google has up to date the Android model distribution statistics displayed in Android Studio to replicate the newest information as of Might 30, 2023. Right here you possibly can see how the proportion of (GMS Android) units has modified since January 2023, when the statistics have been final publicly up to date.
– Android 13: 5.2% – 15%
-… pic.twitter.com/ruaGZhgd6y— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) June 5, 2023
Sadly, that is nonetheless not sufficient to go Android 12, which is discovered on 16.3% of units. The undisputed “chief” stays Android 11, which has misplaced 1.2 factors since January, however nonetheless reaches 23.1% on the prime. Understand that Android 11 was launched in September 2020, which is comparatively previous for a cellular working system.
The right way to replace Android to the newest model
With out desirous to stir the knife into the wound, the worst is undoubtedly the second place occupied by Android 10, which continues to be put in on 17.8% of units greater than three years after its launch.
The Penalties of Android Fragmentation
Android fragmentation refers to the truth that there are a mess of various variations of the working system that aren’t being up to date on the similar tempo or with the identical options. It’s because Android is an open system that may be modified by smartphone producers and telephone operators so as to add their very own consumer interface or functions.
Adjustments that delay the replace course of to new Android variations and require customization and testing earlier than deployment. This limits entry to new options and efficiency enhancements that include newer variations, whereas making it more durable for builders.
In actual fact, the latter should consider the number of variations and {hardware} configurations as a way to make their functions appropriate with the most important attainable variety of units. Lastly, the oldest variations not obtain safety patches that repair system bugs. A boon for cybercriminals who significantly like Android.
Android fragmentation is a phenomenon that persists regardless of Google’s efforts. The variety of manufacturers and gamers concerned within the course of additionally represents a brake on the additional growth of the working system, which struggles to supply a constant and optimum expertise to all customers.
Lastly we all know why Android customers are switching to iPhone
Nonetheless, Google has launched two initiatives to hurry up the replace processor. The primary in 2017 is the Treble mission, which splits the Android code into two layers. The second in 2019 is the mainline mission, which permits updating sure Android parts by the Google Play Retailer with out having to do a full system replace.
Now let’s hope that Google’s initiatives bear fruit and that producers and operators additionally do their half to scale back Android fragmentation.
Supply: Android Police