Google today announced two new Chromebooks for schools with support for Android apps, USB-C fast charging, and a stylus, among other things.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 and the Asus Chromebook C213 arrive this spring. They both come with a smart stylus that Google says resembles a No. 2 pencil "with a unique eraser for correcting mistakes" and no need for charging or pairing "so they can be shared and easily replaced if lost."
Google also teased a "world-facing camera" so that kids can record things around them when the Chromebook is flipped. USB-C support, meanwhile, means "one Chromebook cart can charge any device quickly," Google said.
Other details on specs are scant. Both devices sport a 1,366-by-768 display; the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 promises up to 10 hours of battery life, while the C213 tips 12 hours, according to the Google for Education website.
All Chromebooks released in 2017 will run Android apps, Google confirmed this week, and the new Acer and Asus devices are no exception. To prevent students from wasting time on games and other non-educational content, though, schools will be able to create a library of approved Android apps and install them on select Chromebooks.
The includes things like Toontastic and Science Journal, as well as a new suite of Adobe apps for Chromebooks: Photoshop Mix, Lightroom Mobile, Illustrator Draw, Photoshop Sketch, Adobe Comp CC, and Creative Cloud Mobile.
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Google has seen success in the classroom with its affordable Chromebooks, which start at $149. At the Bett education conference in London this week, Google said more than 20 million teachers and students now use Chromebooks and Google Classroom, while more than 70 million people tap into G Suite for Education.
Microsoft is eyeing a piece of that education pie, however, with its own suite of affordable 2-in-1s. Also at Bett, Redmond announced three new entry-level Windows laptops and 2-in-1s geared toward the education market.
Lenovo's N24 convertible notebook starts at just $189, and includes an 11.6-inch IPS display that rotates through 360 degrees and a pen for writing on the screen. Acer's $299 TravelMate Spin B118 has pressure-resistant screen, shock-absorbent rubber bumper, and spill-resistant keyboard. And the new Turn T201 convertible notebook from education device supplier JP.IK has a microscope for science tasks and a thermal probe that can detect temperature fluctuations