Device Detection

It’s important to consider both the User-Agent and User-Agent Client Hints when detecting WebView. Our device detection can easily do this for you.

A lot happened in 2023 – industry changes and major device releases dominated the device detection market. In response to this, we continuously updated the 51Degrees service.

Apple has made it difficult to detect between iPhone devices, and it’s rare to resolve the detection result to one singular model. This blog discusses the different detection methods and what you can do if the iPhone is detected as a group of models.

We’ve updated our predictive algorithm to tolerate corruption in the User-Agent and User-Agent Client Hints data. The changes result in a more accurate device detection.

iOS 17 is due to be released soon and our device detection can now detect the new release. During testing, we spotted a small change to the iOS 17 desktop mode User-Agent that can affect other device detection solutions.

In the next round of device detection improvements to 51Degrees, we’ve improved our data file release schedule.

We’ve improved our device detection accuracy following feedback raised by our customers, and we’re pleased to announce the release of our upgraded algorithm and data files.

The User-Agent reduction has progressed to the final phase. All web device detection solutions that don’t support the User-Agent reduction and User-Agent Clients Hint must now be upgraded if they are to continue to function.

Version 2.6 of the OpenRTB specification introduces the Structured User Agent. This new Object: Device attribute addresses Google’s changes to the User-Agent and the new User-Agent Client Hints.

Google has made preparing for the User-Agent reduction complicated, but 51Degrees provides the tools to make implementing User-Agent Client Hints simple.