A new report from the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) called Chromebook Churn has found that many Chromebooks purchased by schools just three years ago are already breaking, creating electronic waste and costing taxpayers money. Although Chromebooks have always been a popular option for schools due to their relatively cheap prices, they have exploded in popularity during the Covid pandemic as kids have been doing their schoolwork from home. However, the report has suggested that Chromebooks may not be such a good deal after all.
One of the key issues highlighted in the report is repairability. Chromebooks in schools typically see rough use, and the lack of parts and expensive repairs have become a major issue. For instance, 14 out of 29 keyboard replacements for Acer Chromebooks were found to be out of stock, and 10 of the 29 cost $90 each – nearly half the price of some models. The report stated that “these high costs may make schools reconsider Chromebooks as a cost-saving strategy.” In another instance, HP only stocked power cords and AC adapters for one model, but no other parts.
The devices also have built-in “death dates,” after which software updates end. Once laptops have “expired,” they cannot receive updates and can’t access secure websites. Google does provide eight years of software updates for Chromebooks, but that’s only from the date of release. Since many schools buy Chromebooks released several years before, support can expire in half that time.
According to the report, “Chromebooks aren’t built to last.” They have expiration dates that often make it difficult for schools to resell their devices. Although PCs and Macs may have a higher purchase price, they can easily be resold after a couple of years and can get updates for longer periods of time.
PIRG recommends that Google eliminate update expirations and that its manufacturing partners produce a 10 percent overstock of replacement parts, which should be more standardized across models. The organization said that doubling the lifespan of the Chromebooks sold in 2020 could cut emissions by 4.6 million tons of CO2e, equivalent to taking 900,000 cars off the road for a year. They also say that consumers should be allowed to install alternative operating systems like Linux.
In response to the report, Google said that regular Chromebook software updates add new features and improve device security every four weeks, allowing them to continuously iterate on the software experience while ensuring that older devices continue to function in a secure and reliable manner until their hardware limitations make it extremely difficult to provide updates. The company also stated that they are always working with their device manufacturing partners to build devices with post-consumer recycled and certified materials that are more repairable and use manufacturing processes that reduce emissions.
However, PIRG believes that Google needs to do better. “The least we can do for students who rely on their laptops is ensure these devices are durable and repairable—not part of a constant churn,” said PIRG’s Lucas Rockett Gutterman. “With more tech in our lives and classrooms, if Google wants to be a trusted source for tens of millions of students, they need to make laptops that families and school districts can count on.”
