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▲ jonplackett 9 hours ago

How long do those chrome books last though?

I reckon even an iPhone pro is better value than an average android phone. Same with iPad vs Android tablet.

Because they last 3 possibly 4 times longer. A decent Apple laptop purchased 4 years ago is still basically a top notch laptop. Build quality is amazing. Resale value is still very high.

▲magnio 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Because they last 3 possibly 4 times longer.

An iPhone Pro is 3 times more expensive than an average Android phone too. If you buy Android flagships after 2022, they also last 4-6 years.

▲alwillis 6 hours ago | parent [-]

> If you buy Android flagships after 2022, they also last 4-6 years.

The hardware lasts but they usually stop getting software updates after a few years, especially if they're not high-end models.

Last month, Apple released an update for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X [1]. The iPhone 8 was released September 2017. I seriously doubt 9-year old Android phones, even flagship models, are still getting software updates.

[1]: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/02/apple-releases-ios-16-7...

▲TheBicPen 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Last month, Apple released an update for the iPhone 8 and iPhone X [1]. The iPhone 8 was released September 2017. I seriously doubt 9-year old Android phones, even flagship models, are still getting software updates.

How usable is an 8-year-old iPhone as a primary phone though? I agree that having 8 years of support is a good thing, but at that point the hardware is so degraded that it's not suitable for its original purpose anymore. At that point I'd rather have android just so I can root it and install Linux. Then again, with improvements to phones slowing down in recent years, this is becoming increasingly untrue.

▲asadotzler 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Samsung's flagship Galaxy series get software support for 7 years. A, M, F mid-range and low end models get 6 years of software support. The worst case today for the most popular mid to low spec phones is twice the "a few years" you claim, which suggests you're out of touch with the changes in the industry over the last few years.

▲alwillis an hour ago | parent [-]

> The worst case today for the most popular mid to low spec phones is twice the "a few years" you claim, which suggests you're out of touch with the changes in the industry over the last few years.

Are you sure about that? Apparently nicer Android phones not getting updates for very long is real.

No Longer Receiving Updates

    Google Pixel [2], [3]

    | Phone         | Released |Updates Ended|
    |---------------|----------|-------------|
    | Pixel 3       | Oct 2018 | Oct 2021    |
    | Pixel 3 XL    | Oct 2018 | Oct 2021    |
    | Pixel 3a      | May 2019 | May 2022    |
    | Pixel 3a XL   | May 2019 | May 2022    |
    | Pixel 4       | Oct 2019 | Oct 2022    |
    | Pixel 4 XL    | Oct 2019 | Oct 2022    |
    | Pixel 4a      | Aug 2020 | Aug 2023    |
    | Pixel 4a (5G) | Nov 2020 | Nov 2023    |
    | Pixel 5       | Oct 2020 | Oct 2023    |
    | Pixel 5a      | Aug 2021 | Aug 2024    |
As of late 2024, the Pixel 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5, and 5a series are all fully out of support. The Pixel 5 received Android 14 as its last OS update with a final security patch in October 2023, and the Pixel 5a concluded support in August 2024, also on Android 14.

    Samsung Galaxy [1], [4]

    | Phone                |Released  | Updates Ended|
    |----------------------|----------|--------------|
    | Galaxy S9            | Mar 2018 | ~2022        |
    | Galaxy S9+           | Mar 2018 | ~2022        |
    | Galaxy Note 9        | Aug 2018 | ~2022        |
    | Galaxy S10           | Mar 2019 | ~2023        |
    | Galaxy S10+          | Mar 2019 | ~2023        |
    | Galaxy S10e          | Mar 2019 | ~2023        |
    | Galaxy Note 10       | Aug 2019 | ~2023        |
    | Galaxy Note 10+      | Aug 2019 | ~2023        |
    | Galaxy S20           | Feb 2020 | Early 2025   |
    | Galaxy S20+          | Feb 2020 | Early 2025   |
    | Galaxy S20 Ultra     | Feb 2020 | Early 2025   |
    | Galaxy Note 20       | Aug 2020 | ~2024–2025   |
    | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | Aug 2020 | ~2024–2025   |
    | Galaxy S20 FE        | Oct 2020 | Mid 2025     |
    | Galaxy Z Fold 2      | Sep 2020 | ~2024        |
    | Galaxy Z Flip        | Feb 2020 | ~2023        |
The Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra received their final update in the form of the January 2025 security patch. After originally launching in 2020, Samsung had promised four years of software support for the S20 trio — three major OS upgrades (Android 10 to 13) and four years of security updates.

On Their Last Legs (Security Updates Only, No More OS Upgrades)

These are still receiving quarterly security patches but will drop off soon:

- Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra — Final OS was Android 15; now on quarterly security patches only

- Galaxy S21 FE — Will receive Android 16 as its final major upgrade via One UI 8, after which it moves to quarterly patches with no further OS updates

- Pixel 6 / Pixel 6 Pro — Now updated to a 5-year support window, with final updates expected in October 2026

- Pixel 6a — Supported until at least July 2027

---

The main takeaway: if you're on a Samsung S20-era or Pixel 5a-or-older device, you're fully unprotected. The Galaxy S21 series and Pixel 6/7 families still have some runway left, though they're winding down.

[1]: Samsung Ends Software Updates for These Galaxy Phones in 2025 — https://r2.community.samsung.com/t5/Tech-Talk/Samsung-Ends-S...

[2]: These Google Pixel Phones Will Not Get Android 16 — https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/google-pixel-phones-not-...

[3]: How long will my Google Pixel be supported? – https://9to5google.com/2024/12/10/how-long-will-my-google-pi...

[4]: Galaxy S20 series software updates run dry as Samsung ends support* – https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/samsung-galaxy/galaxy-...

▲orthogonal_cube 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Physical durability will play a major factor here. If schools are expected to provide the Chromebooks then it will all boil down to the level of abuse/neglect the hardware can handle.

Replacing a low-resale value $250 Chromebook that is equally sensitive to being dropped, exposed to liquids, or having debris get into hinges and keyboards will be heavily favored over a $500 MB Neo. The Neo’s processor and storage may have better lifetime but it doesn’t mean anything if the equipment ends up bricked.

Schools in affluent areas may favor these for reasons you state. Judging on how students treat textbooks though should demonstrate how short the lifespan would turn out to be.

▲al_borland 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Framework might be appealing as well. Being able to have parts on hand that can easily be swapped out sounds a lot better/easier than dealing Apple repair practices. The Framework Laptop 12[0] starts at $549 and has touchscreen/pen options. But that price goes up to $799 to have it pre-built with an OS on it, which schools would want, unless building your laptop and installing the OS is part of the curriculum. I wonder if having the kids do this would make them take better care of it, because they had a hand it making it?

[0] https://frame.work/laptop12