Lollipop is now installed on 21 percent of active Android devices

By Jared DiPane
last updated

Google has once again released an update on the distribution numbers for each version of Android, with Lollipop making a jump of nearly 3 percent. The new numbers show that Lollipop is installed on 21 percent of active Android devices, making the jump from 18.1 percent last month. KitKat took a small dive, back down to 39.2 percent like it was back in June, and Jelly Bean is down to 31.8 percent from 33.6 in August.

Android Versions in September

As for the rest, Ice Cream Sandwich sits at 3.7 percent, down from 4.1, Gingerbread dropped half a percent again down to 4.1, and finally Froyo is at 0.2 percent, down from 0.3. Good to see the Lollipop adoption continue to grow ahead of the Marshmallow release.

Source: Google

Jared DiPane
Jared DiPane
Jared started off writing about mobile phones back when BlackBerry ruled the market, and Windows Mobile was kinda cool. Now, with a family, mortgage and other responsibilities he has no choice but to look for the best deals, and he's here to share them with you.
72 Comments
  • I'm sure Apple will have a different number tomorrow... Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yes, they will just use the words "Only 5.1% of phones are on the newest version of Android" or "Over 94% of users are on an older OS". I am sure they will work the Stagefright exploit in there as well with all those at risk systems.
  • As far as I'm concerned if you have at least Kit Kat on your phone, you'll be fine and still remain ahead of any iOS updates for the next several years. Posted via the Android Central App
  • except those running on anything lower than latest wouldn't have security fixes installed! Google play services doesn't include security fixes from what I've read
  • There's still a lot of question as to how big of a deal this is with ASLR, which 95% of all Android devices have.  Someone could use the Stagefright issue to push code into memory, but would then have a very hard time finding that code due to ASLR.
  • What do you mean remain ahead of IOS updates for years to come? I'm currently stuck on KitKat on my prepaid Verizon Moto G. Which is not rootable and has a locked bootloader compared to every other Moto G variant. No root, custom recovery or custom ROMs :( Posted via the Android Central App
  • You wanted root and custom roms on a Verizon phone? Posted via the Android Central App
  • I think he just wanted updates - which clearly he did not get from android.
  • Good, great, awesome! When my bro got his iPhone update, it bricked his phone and Apple charged him $150 to exchange it for a used remanufactured POS that crapped out on him. Meanwhile, I missed out on the Lollipop 5.0 update for 6 months while it bugged out on all the nexus devices that got it. Now I'm running bug free 5.1.1 update from July, hurray for fragmentation Posted via the Android Central App on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  • He means KitKat is far more polished than iOS. Notifications, widgets, lock screen, UI code, etc. I have to admit though, Lollipop 5.1 has taken a big leap forward with the animations, look/feel over kitkat Posted via the Android Central App on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  • Cause if you don't take Apple's software update, your iPhone won't work.
    Prison camp kinda shit. Posted via the Android Central App
  • are you talking out of your ass? My wife's 4s stayed on 7.xx for months even after 8 was released and it works fine. can get appstore apps updates too
  • He means that Apple stops updating the OG iPhone, iPhone 2, iPhone 3, iPhone 3G, and 3GS. The last of which was still being produced 4 years ago I think. I can still update my 4 year old Bionic to lollipop, as android code is open source. I bet fragmentation will become a big issue for Apple as their devices become more future proof like android. Posted via the Android Central App on the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  • Just like if you don't run the latest version of Lollipop, Stagefright will automatically get installed and steal all your credit card numbers.
  • Please know what you are talking about before you speak.
  • Actually, iOS 8 is installed on 87% of iPhones. 21% adoption for android is not bad considering how badly fragmented it is. Except for Nexus, updates need to be approved by Google, then the manufacturer, then the carrier. And it has to be done for a wide variety of CPUs, installed RAM, screen sizes. Keep in mind that a majority of Android phones are not even close to what we see in the US - they are cheap phones sold in the third world with relatively low specs. As for Stagefright, the truth hurts.
  • Yeah, it is bad, considering another version has already been announced. The Android update system is and always has been a joke. I know, as I have owned many Android phones.
  • Same with Apple products, but the difference is that iPeople tend to upgrade their devices whenever a new one is released. Posted.
  • Not just that. That's also because they can, up to 3 or 4 generations back, on release day. Many Android users, because of older devices or carrier constraints, have to wait endlessly. Im rocking an GS6 and find the whole thing (with 5.1.1) miles ahead of what I used to endure with my iPhone previously. The only superior thing to me about iOS is the availability of the OS update, understandably. Im fine for now with my Samsung cause it's a new device, but in the future I might have to swith to Nexus to enjoy that (since I dont wish to root).
  • Who really cares about this data since they're releasing new versions every month? Outside of Google Posted via the Android Central App
  • Developers.
  • Nerds aka androidcentral users :) Posted via the Android Central App
  • Security updates every month.. that's it Posted via the Android Central App
  • both of mine have it, and one is waiting for Marshmallow to be finalized. Nexus 5 | T-Mobile $30 Plan
    LG G2 | Verizon Wireless No Plan
  • People are still on Froyo?? I never even could get to use it because when I came to Android, it was ICS most commonly on devices and I did use gingerbread while using a friend's phone.
    But Froyo??! It must be ancient... Posted via the Android Central App
  • My fascinate still runs like a champ on froyo.... Why yes it gets used once an awhile... And gets playstore update.. Check out the new Nexus! https://youtu.be/u3uFOavLo_w, not a Rick roll
  • I have an EVO Shift I just booted up that is on Froyo. I was going to see if i could use it as a stand alone GPS using Here maps but the OS is not supported so it didn't work...
  • I have an EVO Shift that I recently used while I was waiting for my Moto X replacement, I still have an HTC Incredible running 2.1 (is that still Eclair?), and is doing so pretty well!!
  • Those are most likely people who can't afford to upgrade.
  • Or just low end phones lok Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yes no especially since those came out years ago. Most likely crappy so called budget phones haha Posted via the Android Central App
  • Or people who don't care about the latest and greatest software perhaps.... Posted via the Android Central App
  • It is sad that with M literally round the corner, L is only 20% Posted via the Android Central App
  • The trend has been this way for a while though. Think about all of the phones from Chinese manufacturers that although they are adfordible, will never see updates or have to wait a year or longer. I'm sure they make up the majority of phones still behind on updates. I'm using a Note 5 doesn't mean I like it!
  • Not awhile, it has always been this way. Check out the new Nexus! https://youtu.be/u3uFOavLo_w, not a Rick roll
  • I know, it would have been niced to have seem this aspect of Android improved by now. Even 40% would have been nice. Like you said it's all these cheap devices and even these so called flagships killers that never get updates. Posted via the Android Central App
  • My wife's s5 has been buggy every since the update. I might root it and put it back on Kit Kat. She loved the phone prior to update. Posted via the Android Central App
  • That only 5.1% of 5.1 is the troubling one. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Had the stagefright exploit been fixed in kit kat I think those numbers would be dramatically different... I'd have gladly waited for M to hit before updating my Note 4. Posted via the Android Central App
  • They can keep Lollipop, the Windows Vista of Android! Just hope Marshmallow is redeeming like Windows 7 (or Windows 8.1)!!! :)
  • Are you insane? Lollipop compared to KitKat is like Windows 7 compared to XP. Marshmallow is like Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.
  • Given the adoption rate the analogy of LP to Vista makes sense. Taking the notification debacle and battery drain, overheating issues etc... It's pretty clear it wasn't Androids finest hour-in fact it might be more closely associated with Windows ME! (remember Bob?)
    Hopefully Marshmallow is as redeeming as Win 7. Posted via the Android Central App
  • You mean windows 10 compared to windows 8 right? ;) Posted via the Android Central App
  • Lollipop compared to KitKat is more like Windows 8 compared to 7. Windows 7 was perfect. Windows 8 was better but the initial build wasn't very good. 8.1 sorted most of it. Same goes for Android KK vs L. KitKat was perfect as it performed well. Lollipop was better in theory but the initial build was very buggy. 5.1 fixed most of them and now it's very stable. Here lies the "2016 Flagship Killer". It got slayed by 2015 flagships like the LG G4 being used to post this.
  • I have Lollipop 5.1.1 installed on both the phones my Wife and I have one tablet running a custom Alpha version of Lollipop 5.1.1. We have our primary tablets running Cyanogenmod custom Android 4.4.4. That is
    1 stock LG Risio Lollipop 5.1.1
    1 stock ZTE Z813 Lollipop 5.1.1
    1 rooted Xoom MZ600 Omnirom Alpha 5.11 1 rooted Xoom MZ604 Cyanogenmod 4.4.4
    1 stock Sony Xperia S Kit Kat 4.4.4 I'm not really sure that Lollipop is any faster, or any better than Kit Kat. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Froyo is awesome. Posted via my shiny brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 5!!!
  • DOUGHNUT! Posted via the Android Central App
  • I have 8 Android devices and all of them have Lollipop.
  • This is why I'll be getting a Nexus phone this year. M will be out by the time I get upgraded to Lollipop. Posted via Android Central App
  • My work phone runs gingerbread pretty decent, just wish it had a better processor than the Snapdragon S2, it gets real hot doing almost anything on it, it has an update to ics but it is much more buggy on that, its the Motorola XT626 Iron Rock with dual sim made specially for SouthernLINC Wireless Posted via the Android Central App
  • Die Gingerbread Die! Posted via the Android Central App
  • I'm only sad that the factory reset of my OG Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Honeycomb did not put HC back on the list....
  • I ended up not updating my phone & tablet, and rolling back back the wife's to Kitkat. Lollipop just uses such hideous colors ontop of way too much white, not to mention the stupid crap it does with volume settings and stuff. Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm assuming my 2013 Moto X on Verizon is never getting lollipop. Hopefully the new X PE I ordered will get marshmallow quickly. Posted via Android Central App on my Moto X
  • It will. Then it will be screwed up. You'll wait 3 months for marshmallow.1 to show up to fix the horrendous battery life. Then you'll wait for marshmallow.2 to arrive to fix text messaging flaws.....then. ..... Posted via the Android Central App
  • Still waiting (and waiting.. And waiting.. And waiting.. And waiting..) for 5.1.1 for my Note 4. Posted via the Android Central App
  • To everyone:
    Don't update to 5.0 update only if you're offered anything 5.0+ (eg. 5.1, 5.2)
  • Yeah, updated to 5.0.1 on my Note 4, figured any bugs would get fixed before too long, now its been 5 months and no bugfix for a rather sad battery drain and wifi issues. But hey I might be buying an iPhone 6s Plus tomorrow to fix the problem.
  • Guess people waiting on Marshmallow. Lollipop was a disaster. Killed my Nexus 7. This is one area where iOS have Android beat.
  • Is your Nexus 7 a 1st gen? I have 5.1.1 on a 2nd gen and it works ok.
  • is Android 5.0 Good, bad and ugly
    check it out here
    http://gawkinggeeks.io/2015/03/05/android-5-0-good-bad-ugly/
  • Moto X 2013 on Verizon :( Posted via Android Central App
  • 2013 iPhone 5s on Sprint. Can't wait to get iOS 9 the day it comes out :)
  • Are people really that stupid to still buy old phones? Posted.
  • Let's see, how many of my phones run Lollipop.... .....nearly all of them Here lies the "2016 Flagship Killer". It got slayed by 2015 flagships like the LG G4 being used to post this.
  • Sorry about Froyo showing. I fired up my HTC Aria the other day. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Fragmentation of the android os is its biggest issue Posted via the Android Central App
  • Hate Lollipop. On Verizon, can't roll back to Kitkat either. Can anyone help? Thanks Posted via the Android Central App
  • That's lame. 21%? Posted via the Android Central App
  • I'm still new to Android I have a Moto G LTE 2nd Gen that's still on 5.0.2 but it's still on Lollipop at least but I got a Nexus 6 last weekend and updated to Lollipop 5.1.1 with Stage Fright security patches. Hurray for Nexus phones and Android. But compared to adoption rate of Android Lollipop is still poor against iOS in comparison though. Posted via the Android Central App via My Nexus 6
  • That's good suga...now...off to the next one... Posted via Android Central App
  • I have a ZTE MAX PRO phone, 1st... Is this version compatible with my phone??? 2nd... What are the pros and cons of setting this up on my phone and will I come in contact with any kinds of problems ie., Viruses and/or Malware of any sorts??? 3rdly... How would I go about doing this and setting it up??? 3rdly...