Google’s Game-Changing Lifespan Extension for Chromebooks: A Potential Million-Dollar Saver for School Districts – Orange County Register

Google Extends Lifespan of Older Chromebooks to Reduce E-Waste

Google is addressing the issue of limited software support for older Chromebooks, the low-cost laptops widely used by school districts. Previously, thousands of these devices were discarded after just a few years due to expiring software. In response to this problem, Google has implemented a policy change to extend the lifespan of these devices.

In July, the Bay Area News Group highlighted the challenges faced by school districts across the region, which were forced to recycle Chromebooks prematurely due to software death dates. Each model came with an expiration date, causing older versions to become obsolete three to six years after their release. Although the hardware was still functional, these Chromebooks would no longer receive necessary software updates, rendering them unusable for basic applications and websites.

Starting next year, Google will provide 10 years of automatic software updates for all Chromebooks released in 2021 and beyond. Additionally, users with older laptop models will have the option to extend updates for up to a decade from the model’s original release date. This means that existing devices will not expire for at least two years.

This policy change is expected to prevent 51 Chromebook models from becoming e-waste next year, benefiting students across the country. Oakland Unified, for example, was preparing for the expiration of 40,000 Chromebooks over the next five years. Thanks to this software update extension, schools can now use their fleets of computers for a longer period, saving money that can be allocated to other educational needs.

Doubling the life of Chromebooks sold in California in 2020 alone could result in savings of $225 million for schools in the state. Nationally, the savings could reach $1.8 billion, according to the US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG).

The demand for Chromebooks significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic when online learning became the norm. School districts purchased these affordable laptops to ensure students could participate in classes without straining their budgets. By the end of 2020, global Chromebook sales were nearly 300% higher than the previous year. Market analytics firm Futuresource Consulting reports that Chromebooks are the most widely used devices in kindergarten through 12th grade education globally, accounting for 39% of devices used.

However, the high turnover of Chromebooks led to the recycling of thousands of laptops each summer. For instance, Oakland Unified recycled 451 expired Chromebooks by mid-July and nearly 3,851 in 2022. Repairing damaged but unexpired Chromebooks has also been challenging, mainly due to the lack of affordable and compatible spare parts.

To address these issues, Google plans to make Chromebooks easier to repair in the future. The company aims to allow technicians and third-party repairmen to fix software issues without a physical USB key, reducing repair time by 50%.

While Google has previously extended the software lives of Chromebook models, such as those manufactured in 2020 or later, this commitment has not applied to all devices. Now, every Chromebook will be guaranteed to receive software updates for a decade, surpassing the lifespan of any other operating system.

“With a lifespan of 10 years, fewer working laptops will be disposed of prematurely,” said Lucas Gutterman, a director at US PIRG. “Longer-lasting Chromebooks are a step towards an industry that designs products to last.”