Marshmallow's share doubles to 4.6% in latest Android distribution numbers

By John Callaham
last updated

Android Marshmallow
Android Marshmallow (Image credit: Android Central)

Google has released its latest update to the distribution numbers for each version of Android, with data that was collected on April 4. The latest version, Marshmallow, doubled its share compared to March, up from 2.3% to 4.6%.

Android Distribution April

Google's data shows the previous Android version, Lollipop, went down slightly from 36.1% in March to 35.8% in April, retaining its hold as the version of Android with the most installs. KitKat slid from 34.3% in March to 33.4% in April. Jelly Bean went down from 22.3% to 21.3%, while Ice Cream Sandwich is down slightly from 2.3% to 2.2% and Gingerbread remained the same at 2.6%. Froyo is still hanging on with just 0.1% of all Android devices.

61 Comments
  • Froyo is still the best. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Lollipop is better Posted via the Android Central App
  • Not saying much there bud Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • Lollipop was probably the most unstable android operating system.
  • 5.1.1 was excellent tho Dr. Satan is my physician
  • Yeah after like 6 months... Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • And how long did you have to wait for that update? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Marshmallow Posted via the Android Central App
  • When a large percentage of your users are stuck on Froyo to Jellybean, something is terribly wrong. Posted via the Android Central App
  • I'm on jellybean Posted via the Android Central App
  • Stuck? Nobody is stuck on anything. They just haven't upgraded to a newer device. Posted via the Android Central App (Motorola Nexus 6 - US Cellular)
  • You shouldn't have to change your device to get software updates.
  • Even apple has a cut off point for older devices. So what's your point? I still have an iPod touch first gen! That does not sync with the latest iTunes as it's no longer supported. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yeah but for most android devices that cut of point is immediately it hits the market. That is not ok.
  • Yes, but Apple stop updating devices when the hardware can no longer run the OS. Whether you get updates on Android depends upon either the phone manufacturer or the Network provider and has nothing to do with whether your device had the necessary hardware to run the OS. Google really need to do something to address this problem. I can install a launcher such as Nova Launcher on my Nexus 5 running Marshmallow, why can't Google make it so that my HTC M8s can upgrade to Marshmallow with the Sense Launcher running on top? The same applies to Samsung, LG and any other OEM. Posted via the Android Central App
  • While I wouldn't take an absolute approach about this, sometimes you're better off just getting a new device. For example, I didn't want to update my Ipod Touch to ios8 when it came out upon hearing issues some iDevices with fewer resources may not be able to handle it. I'm still on ios7 and glad I stayed there. Some argue that many of the Apple devices hanging on the edge (Ipad 2, Iphone 4s) really should've just given up on ios8.
  • I'm on Kit Kat (4.4.4)
  • KitKat rocks. My S3 still runs like a champ. I use my S3 as a media device (music player) Be Together Not The Same
  • Agreed. My 2012 Nexus 7 is still sporting Kitkat...Best OS Google has put out.
  • Yep lollipop was utter garbage Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • Why is it garbage?? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Slow, notifications sucked, encryption issues, etc. Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • 5.1.1 is better than any version of KitKat Posted via the Android Central App
  • Agree Posted via Nexus 6 running on any data plan I want
  • Lollipop wasn't/isn't that bad. I really don't notice a difference from the opo to 5x. 5x is a smidge faster. Other than that.. It's the same. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Not 5.1.1 but Marshmallow is better Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yup, KiKat (4.4.4) rocks on my Note 4 yet. Even Jelly Bean on my old Note 2 and OG Note 10.1 still works great! Best part about all of them? None of that new notification and mute system garbage introduced in Lollipop! :)
  • Killing write access to SD cards from Kitkat and up for 3rd party apps was a major issue for me.
  • L o l.
  • What is the % for phones alone, since tablets (other than Nexus) are rarely updated after 1st year.
  • I must say i'm highly disappointed that my 400€ Tab s will only have had 1 major OS update. I'm sure nexus 9 or pixel c will get at least 2 major os updates... Posted via the Android Central App
  • Even 1 major update is unheard of when it comes to non-Nexus tablets
  • This would be nice. Out of the devices I have collected over the past few years. 4 phones and 3 tablets. All still used pretty much at least a little for media consumption and stuff. 3 phones are on lollipop and my s7 edge is on marshmallow of course. The tablets are jellybean, kit Kat and the newest is on lollipop where it will most likely stay but I'll continue to use into android O and maybe P Posted via the Android Central App
  • My guess is the S7 and S7 edge sales have helped that number go up. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Totally true everyone wants popular things Posted via the Android Central App
  • Preposterous claim /s Posted via the Android Central App
  • And the recent updates on some carriers for the S6/edge and Note 4/5.
  • Will the 0.1% of people still using froyo just go jump off a bridge already? I mean the performance on those devices must be absolutely horrible. S7 edge/AC app
  • My mom has had her old HTC wildfire s for about 4 years now, still running gingerbread and the performance is still pretty insane considering its age due to the extremely small size of android (1-2 gigs, probably less). Sadly the battery is completely dead now and she had to get a new phone, the nexus 5x. The performance is quite comparable. The phone was about 400€ at the time Posted from outer space on my Moto X Style
  • The Wildfire was a nice phone back in the day. I wanted one but my carrier didn't offer it. Posted via the Android Central App (Motorola Nexus 6 - US Cellular)
  • kill Froyo already
  • Die Gingerbread Die! Posted via the Android Central App
  • +1 Posted from my LG G4
  • KK still the iron[ed] king :) VZW Moto X DE/N7
  • Yep Posted via the Android Central App
  • I liked kit Kat but there were some launcher issues that weren't fixed until 4.4.2 but overall solid release. Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • I should have added 4.4.4 VZW Moto X DE/N7
  • Lol. 4.6%. so basically it will be 10% or less when Android N is released. This cracks me up.
  • Agreed. Over 4.6% on Marshmallow over 6 months after release. How completely pathetic. Something has got to give. Google needs desperately to rethink the update process.
  • I said this time and time again Google is too far in now it's a open source platform and Google can't touch the OEMs. Posted from my Nexus 6/Nexus 7 2013/Surface Pro 3
  • Google has more power than you might think. I bet it's more that they don't want to get in the way as opposed to doing something about it. Android might be open source but google still owns it.
  • Really wonder if Android N will finally fix the core update issue as I've read it might. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Is the moto e 1st gen can get Android 6 update
  • Of the 5% how many are of the Nexus line, Galaxy S7 line and LG G5? Just about everyone of them. Six months later and updates are far and few between.
  • Sprint G4s got the Marshmallow update a couple months ago Posted from my LG G4
  • The oldest phone in my house is on ICS.....
  • Still waiting for AT&T to bring it on the v10 Posted via the Android Central App
  • Same problem here, waiting on AT&T for my HTC M9 update. All other carriers had it last month... at the latest.
  • Glad to see the Froyo and ICS flames still burning a little. Unless you're stuck on it and wish you had a newer device. Then it probably sucks for you. Most if us couldn't wait for Froyo. Bag on it all you want but it was the best update to come out up to that point. And we were all desperate as hell to get it. Posted via the Android Central App
  • In Canada and still waiting for LG to update the G3 to Marshmallow... They've already updated it in other markets. LG G3.. waiting for Marshmallow... Edit: Just checked and I have a OS update waiting to download... fingers crossed :)
  • I just hopped on to Marshmallow With My GS6 Edge. Its very nice Posted via the Android Central App