Google revealed its commitment to prolonging the lifespan and sustainability of Chromebooks for the next 10 years, a move that is set to have significant implications, especially for education.

In a release on Google’s blog site, published on Thursday, September 14, the senior leadership at Google’s ChromeOS division, including Prajakta Gudadhe and Ashwini Varma, both senior directors of engineering at Chrome OS, detailed the company’s vision for Chromebook’s future, emphasising their commitment to automatic updates, enhanced sustainability measures, and streamlined repair processes.

Starting in 2024, Chromebooks released from 2021 onwards will automatically receive this extended update support. For Chromebooks in use prior to 2021, users and IT administrators will have the option to extend automatic updates to 10 years from the platform’s release, following their last automatic update.

Chromebooks are the number one device used in K-12 education globally. They offer environmental benefits, as well as cost savings with a 55 per cent lower device cost and a 57 per cent lower cost of operations. according to the release.

The security of Chromebooks is further bolstered by features like Verified Boot, which conducts self-checks during start-up and can repair the system if any tampering or corruption is detected.

To address the need for efficient repair solutions, Google is rolling out updates that significantly expedite the Chromebook repair process. The company’s new repair flows eliminate the need for a physical USB key, allowing authorised repair centres and school technicians to perform software repairs more quickly.

This reduces downtime and minimises disruptions to educational environments, aligning with Google’s goal of enhancing the educational experience through Chromebooks.

In the coming months, energy-efficient features will be introduced on a majority of compatible platforms. Adaptive charging will help extend battery life by preserving battery health, while a battery-saver feature will optimise energy usage.

Furthermore, Google has been collaborating with leading Chromebook manufacturers, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, to prioritise sustainability. These efforts include the use of ocean-bound plastics, post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, recyclable packaging, and low-carbon emission manufacturing processes.

This year alone, manufacturers have introduced 12 new Chromebooks made with PCR materials and repairable components.