• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Chrome Unboxed - The Latest Chrome OS News

A Space for All Things Chrome, Google, and More!

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Unboxing
  • Chromebooks
  • Upcoming
  • Deals
  • Tips
  • Podcast
  • Home
  • Gaming
  • SEARCH
You are here: Home / All Stories / Google’s Iconic Cr-48 Chromebook’s End Of Life May Have Arrived
Google’s Iconic Cr-48 Chromebook’s End Of Life May Have Arrived

Google’s Iconic Cr-48 Chromebook’s End Of Life May Have Arrived

February 18, 2017 By Gabriel Brangers Leave a Comment

Very few things are made to truly last. The Great Wall of China, Stonehenge….Twinkies. Unfortunately, very few tech devices will ever find themselves in this category.

Today we mourn what may be the end of support for Google’s patriarchal Chromebook, the Cr-48.




We say this in jest, somewhat, because honestly the Cr-48 has been living on borrowed time. Google’s End of Life policy guarantees automatic updates for a device for 5 years* which puts the grandfather of all Chromebooks at its end in December of 2015.

The caveat here is that Google never states the EOL date IS the end of support, just that the support is not guaranteed after this date.

AUE (auto update expiration) dates may be pushed later than the initial date published, but will never be sooner than listed.

Google Support

Recent developer info, showing current builds of Chrome OS for devices, show no Beta or Developer build for the Cr-48. This could be a good indication that Chrome OS 56 may be the final hoorah for the iconic Chromebook.

Image credit: Denny Lockhart



If this truly is the End of Life for the Cr-48, it’s been a good run for the Chromebook that started it all. It doesn’t mean the device will cease to work. But, if you happen to still be using one, the time of updates may be coming to a close. As for us, we’ll be putting ours on display in our collection of devices that hold a special place in the Chrome OS hall of fame.

*At the time of publishing this article, the Google support page for End of Life policies now forwards to a Chrome for Business and Education page. The page now states that End of Life for Chrome devices is actually 6.5 years. We are researching this to see if the policy has, in fact, been updated.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: All Stories, Chrome OS, Chromebooks, News

About Gabriel Brangers

Lover of all things coffee. Foodie for life. Passionate drummer, hobby guitar player, Web designer and proud Army Veteran. I have come to drink coffee and tell the world of all things Chrome. "Whatever you do, Carpe the heck out of that Diem" - Roman poet, Horace. Slightly paraphrased.

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL | ABOUT

Copyright © 2021 · Chrome Unboxed · Chrome is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
We are participants in various affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites.

GET EMAIL UPDATES

Privacy Policy

  • Reviews
  • Editorial
  • About