iOS vs Android – Fragmentation of the two operating systems

One of the biggest differences between the most popular operating systems for mobile devices, iOS and Android is their fragmentation.

Updates way for the two operating systems reaching the users is totally different.

When a new version of iOS appears, Apple releases it to iTunes or directly through the OTA (Over the Air) for all users, mainly any iDevice model can install it without any restriction at the same time.

On the other hand, when it comes to a new update for the Android operating system, things complicates as it firstly reaches to tablet and phone manufacturers or mobile operators who, after each of them make the desired changes, launches them one at a time and after long periods of time, allowing them to be installed through a PC or directly via OTA system from the device.

Because of this, the fragmentation of the two operating systems is so different.

In the picture below you can see how the Android is distributed in all its released versions so far (without 4.4 KitKat).

And below you will find the way iOS is fragmented.

The differences are clear to everyone, as you can see. But it helps the fact that Apple, for example, offers a few iDevice that can run iOS, while Android runs on hundreds of models of smartphones and tablets from almost all other manufacturers.