Most current iOS version distribution percentage?

Question

I started working on a new app and I wanted to use all of the new iOS5 features (including storyboard) but I'm afraid to limit my app to iOS5 users only.

I couldn't find any information about iOS5 usage VS iOS<5 usage.

If you could point me to some research data or give me an advice about going for iOS5 only development, I would be forever grateful :)

Thanks

Answer 1

http://david-smith.org/iosversionstats/ has some data that is (as of Apr 2013) are bang up to date.

That data showed that 1.5 weeks after formal release, iOS 6 had already reached 38%. Currently (Apr 2013) it shows that iOS 6 has reached 89.1%.

UPDATE - June 2013

Apple have now also added some stats to their developer portal, these show the devices accessing the appstore and for a 14 day period ending June 3, 2013 iOS 6 was 93%, iOS5 6% and earlier iOS versions 1%. (Nov 2013: this link doesn't seem to work anymore - I can't find a current link.)

UPDATE - November 2013

Mixpanel trends have a graph showing iOS 7 adoption rate

UPDATE - Deccember 2013

Apple's stats are back (at a new URL).

They're currently show iOS 7 74%, iOS 6 22%, and 'earlier' 4% - as measured by the App Store in 7 days ending 1st December. (ie. approx 2 months after the public release of iOS 7.)

Answer 2

I'd say go for iOS 5: according to this article from last year, adoption of iOS 4 was at 90+% about 6 months after release. If iOS 5 follows at the same rate, and considering it was already at 40% only a few months after release, I'd say that the numbers are somewhat similar to iOS 4. The only thing that will drive the numbers slightly down will be the real old devices that won't get iOS 5, but I'd estimate that 75%+ already have iOS 5 and it will keep growing, especially as users replace their old models with new ones.

Edit: found this other about Bump users for December where 5.0.1+5.0 would total slightly over 60%.

Also, if you're new to iPhone Dev, iOS 5 makes it much easier with ARC and storyboards among many other features. Personally, I'm targeting iOS 5 and not looking back. Also, you may want to check an excellent iOS 5 free course in iTunesU from Stanford University: CS193P: iPad and iPhone App Development (Fall 2011)

Final edit: found this article that summarizes it clearly for iOS 4 -

• 1 month after release - 50% adoption rate
• 3 months after release - 70% adoption rate
• 6 months after release - 90% adoption rate