Google extends the EOL of 140 different Chrome OS devices by up to a year each

A handful of the 100+ devices that have had their Google AUEs altered. (Source: AndroidPolice)

Google provides hardware that runs its own OS with automatic updates for a fixed period of time after their release. This software policy applies to a range of devices, from Chromebooks to Chromebits, the end-of-life (EOL) of which is known as Auto Update Expiration (or AUE). 140 of these products have had their AUEs amended by 6 months to a year each.

by Deirdre O Donnell, 2019/11/06

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Many buyers may choose Chrome OS PCs as they are decent standard-issue in an educational or professional environment, or just as light-use computers. However, a prominent disadvantage of these machines is that they have a strict end-of-life (EOL) policy, dictated by Google (the source of their software updates) as it is. However, this issue has turned into an asset for certain machines. Their AUEs have been pushed back by up to a year in some cases.

This change in practice affects Chromebooks, and also some other devices such as Chromeboxes, from prominent OEMs such as Acer, Asus, Lenovo and Dell. It also benefits some products from lesser-known brands such as PCMerge and Senkatel. The change adds between 6 and 12 months to the update schedule for each of the 140 individual PCs in question: for example, the Chrome OS version of the Yoga C630's EOL is now in 2026 rather than in 2025.

This may be particularly good news for owners of devices such as the Samsung Chromebook 2 11 (XE500C12), Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-531) or Dell Chromebook 13 (7310). Their AUEs were up in 2020, but are now delayed until 2021. Those wishing to check their own device for this useful-life extension can use the handy list compiled by AndroidPolice.