Google has announced that Chromebooks will receive 10 years of support, starting in 2024, an increase from the previous support period of 3 to 8 years.
The move comes in response to concerns from school administrators about the limited lifespan of Chromebooks. The newly announced support is expected to save schools and taxpayers billions of dollars.
Chromebooks are a popular choice for schools because they are inexpensive and easy to manage. However, their limited support period meant that schools had to replace them more often, which was costly and generated electronic waste.
Under the new policy, Google will provide Chromebook security patches and software upgrades for up to 10 years. This will ensure that Chromebooks remain secure and up-to-date for longer, and it will allow schools to keep their devices for longer without having to worry about them becoming obsolete.
The 10-year support policy will apply to all Chromebooks released after 2021. For older Chromebooks, Google will offer a one-time extension of support. This means that if your Chromebook is currently scheduled to expire within the next two years, you will get two to three more years of support.
The sources for this piece include an article in ZDNET.