1. What has Apple changed with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26?
Apple has introduced changes in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 that affect the information shared by browsers (such as Safari). Specifically, the User-Agent string no longer exposes detailed device information. This means analytics tools cannot reliably detect certain device attributes when traffic comes from browsers on these operating systems.
2. How does this impact the data quality in Mapp Intelligence?
Since Intelligence relies on browser User-Agent data to identify devices, you will see less granular reporting for visitors using iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 browsers. Over time, as more customers update their devices, this will result in reduced visibility into device-level breakdowns (e.g., specific iPhone or iPad models).
3. Does this affect all traffic or just iOS/iPadOS users?
This change only affects browser traffic (e.g., Safari, Chrome, etc.) on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. Other platforms (Android, Windows, macOS, etc.) are not affected.
4. Will this impact Mapp SDK for Apps?
No. If you are using the Mapp SDK within your apps, this change does not apply. The SDK can still collect and provide accurate device information for app users.
5. Can Mapp do anything to fix this limitation?
Unfortunately, no. Since Apple has restricted the information available from browsers, this is a platform-level limitation outside of Mapp’s control. All analytics and marketing platforms will face the same challenge.
6. What will my reports look like going forward?
You may notice:
More generic device information (e.g., “iPhone” or “iPad” without the exact model).
A gradual decline in detailed device reporting as more users upgrade to iOS 26/iPadOS 26.
No impact on other reporting dimensions such as location, browser type, or campaign attribution.
7. Is there any workaround?
The only workaround is to use the Mapp SDK for Apps, which continues to provide detailed device information. No workaround is currently available for browser traffic.
8. Where can I learn more?
For a more technical breakdown of Apple’s changes, you can read this detailed article from 51Degrees: Apple iOS 26 Safari 26 User-Agent String Device Detection.