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3w ago

iOS 26 Uptake Disputed as Apple Trials New Security Updates and Nears 26.3

Conflicting adoption estimates — about 16% per StatCounter versus much higher via TelemetryDeck — coincide with Apple piloting Background Security Improvements ahead of a late‑January 26.3 release.

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Apple is preparing iOS 26.3 Beta 2 with new features, improvements, and easier Android-to-iPhone transfers.
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Overview

  • StatCounter’s January data suggests roughly 15–16% of active iPhones run iOS 26, far below the pace of recent iOS cycles, while TelemetryDeck reports adoption near 60%.
  • The two datasets use different methods — web traffic impressions for StatCounter and in‑app SDK telemetry for TelemetryDeck — which helps explain the divergence.
  • Apple has issued test Background Security Improvement builds labeled iOS 26.3 (a) to developers and public beta users, a modular system that can be temporarily removed in rare compatibility cases.
  • iOS 26.3 remains in beta with Beta 2 expected soon, and a broad release planned for late January according to multiple reports.
  • Reported 26.3 changes include easier Android‑to‑iPhone data transfer and EU‑only additions such as notification forwarding to third‑party smartwatches and proximity pairing, as users weigh upgrades following the Liquid Glass redesign and ongoing security support for iOS 18.