Android Fragmentation

Original author: OpenSignal
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Fragmentation is both a virtue and a disadvantage of the Android ecosystem. The network has a lot of comparisons of the API level of the Android and iOS operating systems. In this article, we examine the degree of fragmentation of the mobile OS from Google and analyze the impact of fragmentation on developers and users.

Disadvantage:

Android devices come in all shapes and sizes, with completely different workmanship and screen sizes. In addition, there are many different versions of Android on the market that are simultaneously active at the moment, which increases fragmentation. This leads to the fact that the development of applications that can work on all Android devices can be extremely difficult and time-consuming task.

Dignity:

Despite all the disadvantages, fragmentation has many advantages, both for developers and for end users. The presence of cheap smartphones (rarely working on the latest version of Android) contributes to a higher reach of users than iOS, so application developers have a wider audience. The application may be harder to make, but the potential win is definitely worth it. For consumers, significant fragmentation helps them choose the phone they want — small or large, cheap or expensive, with any combination of different features.

DEVICE FRAGMENTATION




This is the best way to visualize the vast number of different Android devices from which the OpenSignal application has been downloaded over the past few months. From the developer's point of view, comparing the fragmentation year by year, we see that it has tripled, there are more new devices from around the world downloading the application. If you want to understand the problem of creating an application that will work on all devices, you can start with this diagram.

BRAND Fragmentation




A similar view by brands, we can see what market share each device manufacturer has, obviously Samsung has stepped forward. Having calculated the percentage of the market for several manufacturers of devices from the top, we see that Samsung dominates with a share of 47.5%, Sony-Ericsson is in second place and has less than a sixth of Samsung's share - 6.5%. Some brands combined in one company on the diagram have different shares, that is, Moto and Motorola are one company and HTC is shown with different shares by region. But even if you combine them, Motorola has only 4.2% of the market, and HTC - less than 3.9%.

FRAGMENTATION OF ANDROID OS VERSIONS




Fragmentation of devices is not the only problem faced by developers for Android; the operating system itself is quite fragmented and over time, the degree of fragmentation only increases. The graph above shows this degree in stages, and we can also see a steady decline in the popularity of each version of Android along the white line.

COMPARE WITH IOS




A variety of Android fragmentations are usually compared to iOS. Two pie charts show the obvious differences in API fragmentation between two competing operating systems.

SCREEN DIMENSIONS


The key to the success of any application is the correct user interface, and Android has two main problems for developers regarding the UI. First, brands tend to produce their own system UIs (for example, Touchwhizz for Samsung and HTC Sense), which can change the look of many standard elements. Second, there is no other smartphone platform that could boast such a rapid increase in screen sizes. How to help overcome these difficulties is described in article 40 tips for optimizing your Android application . The graph below shows the different physical screen sizes of Android phones, with a darker line - the most popular smartphones.



It is very difficult to create layout layouts that work well on all of these screens. When both iPod-touch, iPhone and iPad have only 4 physical screen sizes - partly due to Apple's tendency to double pixel density by quadrupling the resolution (for example, iPad 2 -> iPad 3) while maintaining the physical screen size. The graph below shows fragmentation of the sizes of the screens of iOS, compare with Android.



CONCLUSIONS


The fragmentation of devices is increasing, and with it the choice of the Android operating system is growing. While fragmentation gives only a headache to developers who test and optimize their applications for each new device, at the same time, the success of the Android ecosystem cannot be associated with its fragmentation, Android is available to everyone. Manufacturers of cheaper devices will try to use the latest versions of Android, and fragmentation will help the ecosystem become more global and socio-economic.

Fragmentation geographically expands the Android market - it is not limited to dispersing devices and OS. It is also important for understanding which devices are currently relevant. Some devices may be relevant for one region, but not popular in another; developers need to take into account differences in network performance in different regions when developing applications. Another factor is battery life; when at the moment the battery life is quite acceptable, then in the future it may be missed. It is important to remember that it is not enough to share applications only by device.

The report shows that Android fragmentation is growing. Many consider this a drawback of Android, not a virtue. So far, of course, fragmentation is associated only with flaws (and as developers we are well aware of them), but this is not correct. Apple is currently working on a low-cost device, and fragmentation of their ecosystem will also increase. The Android ecosystem may not be right in everything, but it is imitated.

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And what version of Android is on your device?

  • 0% 1.1 0
  • 0% 1.5 0
  • 0% 1.6 0
  • 0% 2.0 0
  • 0% 2.0.1 0
  • 1.1% 2.1 1
  • 2.2% 2.2 2
  • 1.1% 2.3-2.3.2 1
  • 8.8% 2.3.3-2.3.7 8
  • 0% 3.0 0
  • 0% 3.1 0
  • 1.1% 3.2 1
  • 4.4% 4.0-4.0.2 4
  • 15.5% 4.0.3-4.0.4 14
  • 11.1% 4.1.x 10
  • 20% 4.2.x 18
  • 7.7% 4.3.x 7
  • 40% 4.4.x 36

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