Chromebook Requirements
Beginning the 2021-2022 school year, Chromebooks will be required for 6th-12th grade students. While there is not a specific Chromebook that will be required, there are several specifications that you should look for/consider when purchasing your Chromebook. Below you will find a list of required specifications for the Chromebook, followed by an explanation for some of these. At the end of this section, there are some helpful tips and links that you might consider checking out as you look around.
Part Specifications
Processor Intel ® Celeron Processor
-or- Intel ® Braswell or Cherry Trail Processors
-or- Intel® i3, i5, or i7 Processor
-or- Rockchip RK3288
Memory 4GB or more
Hard Drive 16GB or larger
Display 11-inch display or larger with HD
Wireless (WiFi) Wifi enabled ONLY
Battery-life 8hrs or longer
Memory (RAM) – When it comes to RAM, most Chromebooks come with either 2GB or 4GB. We recommend at least 4GB of RAM. The difference will be worth it if you plan to have more than a couple of tabs open.
Screen – Many display resolutions on most 13 inch or larger Chromebooks will be 1,920 by 1,080 pixels, otherwise known as 1080p, but a few cheaper or smaller Chromebooks may be lower resolution, and the very highest-end models may be higher-resolution. For most midsize Chromebooks with screens from 13 to 15 inches, 1080p is a suitable option.
Processor (CPU) – A low-end processor such as an Intel Celeron or a Pentium processor will serve you well if the primary use of the Chromebook is to browse with a tab or two open. Chromebooks based on Intel Core CPUs like the Core i3 and the Core i5 will be more versatile for robust multitasking and streaming, though they are more expensive.
Storage – Most files on a Chromebook will be stored in the cloud/Google Drive, so Chromebooks include only a small hard drive, usually 16GB – 64GB, on which to save your local creations if needed. This should be sufficient for student needs. If you think more space on the device is needed, look for an SD card slot to add expanded storage.
Connectivity – Most Chromebook connections are wireless, so you will use the machine almost exclusively attached to Wi-Fi. If you will need to give presentations, look for a video output port, such as HDMI. Also, look for a USB port or two if you will want to attach a mouse, etc.
ChromeOS Updates – Every Chromebook has an expiration date on which Google stops supporting the device. Choose the Chromebook with the latest end of life date with the specifications you need. See Chromebook End of Life Considerations below.
Chromebook End of Life Considerations
Chrome devices (e.g. Chromebook, Chromebox, Chromebase, Chromebit) receive automatic updates that enhance both the device and its software. Device updates provide the latest features and keep the device secure, and are applied across the operating system, browser and hardware. These updates depend on many device specific non-Google hardware and software providers that work with Google to provide the highest level of security and stability support. For this reason, older Chrome devices cannot receive updates indefinitely to enable new OS and browser features. See this chart to determine when a Chromebook is expected to reach EOL: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en
Please note some retailers may have misleading information on their websites about the age of a Chromebook, making buyers believe it was manufactured more recently than is actually the case. https://www.aboutchromebooks.com/opinion/opinion-amazon-needs-to-stop-listing-chromebooks-with-misleading-information/