April 29, 2025, 12:12 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Since April 2025, less than half of the Android smartphones in circulation will receive new security patches. The reason for this is the fragmentation of the operating system, which runs in many different versions on millions of devices.
The unveiling of the final version of Android 16 at the Google I/O 2025 is imminent. However, many smartphone manufacturers have yet to update their current devices to Android 15. Even industry leader Samsung is only now rolling out the update to its 2024 flagship models, the Galaxy S24 and Z Fold 6, six months after the launch of Android 15. Delayed or entirely absent updates are common in the Android world, leaving many users with insecure devices.
Newer Android Versions on Only a Fraction of Devices
Although some manufacturers like Google and Samsung now promise seven years of software updates, there are still many Android smartphones stuck with unsupported versions. An Android version is considered unsupported when it no longer receives security patches. Currently, these outdated Android versions run on more than half of all devices.
Data from Google’s own developer platform, Android Studio, shows that only 48.7 percent of devices have Android 13 or newer installed. The program allows developers to choose which Android version to develop an app for and indicates how many devices can be reached with each version.
The data shows that Android 15 is currently installed on only 4.5 percent of devices. Android 13 and especially Android 14 have a significantly larger share, with 16.8 and 27.4 percent, respectively. It should be noted, however, that the data does not yet reflect the update to Android 15 for the Galaxy S24, Z Flip 6, and Z Fold 6, which Samsung is currently rolling out.
More Than Half of All Android Devices Are Insecure
These numbers are concerning because only devices with Android 13 or newer receive security patches from Google. The Android security bulletin for March 2025 was the last to be provided for Android 12 and 12L. With the April 2025 bulletin, smartphones and tablets with older Android versions lost Google’s support.
Android 12 was released in 2021 and is just four years old. It is still installed on 12.8 percent of all devices, affecting millions of users. By comparison, Apple recently released a security update for the ten-year-old iPhone 6s.
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Outdated Software Is a Major Problem
But it’s not just Google to blame for this oversight; manufacturers and, in some cases, users themselves are also responsible. Manufacturers are tasked with providing updates for their devices. However, the gap is wide: often, only expensive flagship smartphones receive regular updates. Even then, there can be months of delay, as the Samsung example shows. Smaller manufacturers often promise only two or three years of software support.
Additionally, many users are hesitant to install updates or do not install them at all. Not without reason, as insufficiently tested updates can cause numerous software and even hardware errors. Nevertheless, installation is essential, especially for security. Using unprotected software makes one a target for attacks on personal data, passwords, banking information, and more.
Users should ensure that at least the security patch level on their Android smartphone is up to date. If there is no longer software support from the manufacturer, purchasing a more current device is the only recommendation to ensure safe usage.