Generally speaking, the lifespan of most Chromebooks is between five and eight years. A Chromebook will receive a full Chrome OS update about every four weeks for at least five years from the date of release.
A good Chromebook can do almost anything a regular laptop can do—as long as that task is possible in a web browser or in Android apps. And $500 Chromebooks tend to be faster, lighter, and sleeker than $500 Windows laptops. Chromebooks are also secure and easy to maintain.
Older Chromebooks have older hardware parts, and these parts eventually lose the ability to get the latest updates. If your Chromebook is more than 5 years old, you might see this message: "This device will no longer receive software updates. You can continue using your computer but should consider upgrading."
A significant benefit of Chromebooks is that they typically have longer battery life than most laptops. This means you can use them for several hours on a single charge, which is very handy if you travel frequently or need to work remotely.
Getting the AUE date for any Chromebook is as simple as finding its name on a list. Google maintains a full list of AUE dates for all models. Just head to the list, find the make of your Chromebook or the one you're looking to buy or pass along. Click on the make and the model list will drop down with its AUE date.
Chromebooks have a built-in expiration date after which Google will no longer support the software. These expiration dates are based on the certification of a given model, not the purchase date. (You can look up the expiration date for your device here.)
In a report on Tuesday, titled "Chromebook Churn," US PIRG contends that Chromebooks don't last as long as they should, because Google stops providing updates after five to eight years and because device repairability is hindered by the scarcity of spare parts and repair-thwarting designs.
Chromebooks also tend to have weaker GPUs and can't handle editing high-definition media like a laptop with a more powerful GPU can. If you're a multimedia professional this is probably not the device for you. CPU—In order to keep costs low, Chromebooks typically don't have the latest and greatest CPUs.
Chromebooks mostly rely on web apps, while Windows laptops mostly run third-party software that will usually support the last few generations of Windows. Any difference in longevity between Chromebooks and Windows laptops is likely to be slim. Both tend to last for many years, even without upgrades.
Windows 11 has more hardware support
Chromebooks are a lot more limited in comparison. While some Chromebooks do come with capable internals – with the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) being a great example – they don't have the same range compared to Windows.
It's going to make more sense for you to just purchase a new device. Spent Between $200-$400: Don't spend more than $100 for repairs. More than that, and it's most likely not going to be worth it for you. Spent $500+: It's okay to have it repaired.
But here's the thing: Although most people refer to EOL or AUE date as expiration date, it's practically more like a “best-before” date. Technically, you can continue using your Chromebook after the AUE date. Just don't expect to receive the latest software updates or any technical support after that.
So as Chromebooks are not made to run heavy software, they do not have the components to run heavy software, which are the most expensive components. Chromebooks need and have mostly cheap hardware components. These cheap components are the first reason why Chromebooks are cheap.
What is a Chromebook? A Chromebook is basically a budget laptop that does not run Mac OS, Linux, or Windows, and instead operates on a special Google-based operating system called Chrome OS. Chromebooks are especially popular with college students.
To install Windows on your Chromebook: Take the Windows installation media (i.e., USB flash drive) and plug it into the Chromebook. Your Chromebook should boot directly from the USB device. If nott, press ESC as soon as the Chromebook boots.
Chromebook Processors
The ChromeOS operating system is so light-touch, that you can run it with a basic processor. Chromebooks still start quickly and run smoothly, but on a processor that helps cut the cost of the computer. Windows laptops and Macs need much more advanced processors in order to run quickly.
Subtitles & alternate audio. Select the "Audio and Subtitles" icon to choose an alternate language track or turn on subtitles if available. You can watch Netflix on your Chromebook or Chromebox computer through the Netflix website or the Netflix app from the Google Play Store.
On your Chromebook, you can open, edit, download, and convert many Microsoft® Office files, such as Word, PowerPoint, or Excel files. Important: Before you edit Office files, check that your Chromebook software is up to date.
Essentially, Chromebooks are best for web work: browsing the web, working online on documents, and using web streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime inside a web browser. You can also download and use Android apps for gaming and entertainment, though they may not run entirely like on your phone.
Although you can technically edit images and video on Chromebooks, they are usually not the best computing option for multimedia applications. Working offline on a Chromebook arguably requires a bit more advance planning than using a Windows or Mac OS-based laptop. They're not all that good for gaming.
To use Office on your Chromebook, install the Office mobile apps through the Google Play Store. If your Chromebook uses the Chrome Web Store instead, you can install Office Online to create, edit, and collaborate on your Office files in your browser.
Most Chromebooks run on Intel processors, but many feature older and slower chips than the newer processors in current Windows PCs. You might not notice much of a difference, though, because Chrome OS apps typically require less processing power than many Windows and macOS apps.