Nearly half of all K-12 devices sold are Chromebooks

Dive Brief:

Between April and June, Chromebooks rose to account for around half of all K-12 device sales.
In total, 1.9 million of the affordable, Google-powered laptops were sold in the space, making up 49% of the 3.9 million devices purchased for K-12 overall.
The tablet market remains dominated by the iPad, despite the fact that some schools have moved away from their use.

Dive Insight:

The appeal of the Chromebook over other options seems to be two-fold. The computers can go for as little as $149, far less than most laptops and many tablets. That’s a selling point for schools trying to implement blended learning programs with limited funds. Amazon may even be making a play for Chromebooks’ market share, with a $50 tablet on the way this fall.

But the devices also offer users access to Google’s popular suite of tools and apps, which are widely used even in schools that don’t use the devices. The integration of the tools with the devices can help ease the hurdles of getting teachers and students used to a new system.