Version 4

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.

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

Chrome 110, due for release on 1 February 2023, will be the first Chrome version that has information removed from the mobile and tablet User-Agents. In essence, you will not be able to tell the difference between different mobile or tablet device models.

Google is pressing ahead with the User-Agent reduction. From February 2023, Google will reduce the information within Chrome mobile and tablet User-Agent strings. Device information will only be available through User-Agent Client Hints.

If you have not adjusted your systems to support User-Agent Client Hints before the release of Chrome 107 on 25 October 2022, you are likely to encounter a reduction in your device detection accuracy.

The webinar, and this transcript, serves as an extensive history into why Google are reducing the User-Agent in favor of their own creation, User-Agent Client Hints.

In this webinar, we’ll discuss Google’s User-Agent Reduction and User-Agent Client Hints proposals. Both are a big change, whether you are a website owner, web analytics professional, or performance optimization specialist, you will need to prepare. Join us on 28 September to learn more.

User-Agent Client Hints return device information in the second request rather than the first; this can cause latency issues. We discuss why Google need to address the latency and offer a work-around.

Our users who are upgrading from Version 3 to Version 4 can expect performance differences between the two. We discuss why in this blog.

Version 4.4 of the 51Degrees service, which contains full User-Agent Client Hints support, has now been released. Find out more about the changes and how to get started with UA-CH support.