Almost a tenth of Android devices have broken off a piece of KitKat

Google KitKat Android
Android KitKat adoption is rising steadily

Android 4.4 KitKat continues to grow in use, now accounting for 8.5% of all Android devices, according to Google.

The company measures OS usage numbers by collating the devices that access the Google Play store through the latest version of the app, and releases its findings in monthly reports.

Using this technique, Google can tell that KitKat is now on almost a tenth of devices counted. Jelly Bean still has the majority by far with a total of 60.5%.

Meanwhile the older Gingerbread - top of the list just two years ago - is still on 16.2% of devices, and Ice Cream Sandwich has 13.4%.

Everyone gets a piece

Bear in mind that Google's process does not take into account devices like Amazon's Kindle Fire line, which use Amazon's app store, or the Nokia X, an Android phone filled with Microsoft bric-a-brac.

In addition, devices running OS versions older than Android 2.2 aren't counted.

Regardless, it's clear that KitKat is gaining speed at a respectable clip; its usage has jumped from just 2.5% in the past two months.

There are two factors to thank there. KitKat is rolling out steadily (if slowly) to existing devices, and more new flagships are launching with the latest Google OS built in.

Those new devices include the HTC One (M8), Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2.

Via Android Authority

Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.


Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.