Don’t Settle for Less: Why Upgrading to 16GB RAM on Your Laptop is a Smart Move
A modest upgrade of 8GB for $200 on the XPS 13 turns out to be a fraction of the cost of a new laptop.
If you’ve just awoken from a time travel nap since 2019, the laptop landscape might appear much the same at first glance. The sleek Dell XPS 13 still flaunts its 8GB RAM and Apple’s entry-level MacBook mirrors that specification. However, a closer look at the prices indicates that something has indeed shifted.
This year, Dell introduced the XPS 13, equipped with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, starting at $699. Yet, this price tag soon climbed by $100 for the same specifications. While the $699 model remains, it now only comes with 256GB storage. Similarly, Apple’s MacBook Neo saw an increase from $599 to $699 earlier this year, amidst a slew of price hikes across the board.
According to a report from TrendForce, components like CPUs, memory, and storage account for a whopping 68% of the budget for a mainstream laptop. This trend might lead manufacturers to cut back on memory to maintain their profit margins, setting the stage for even more laptops with 8GB of RAM. However, resist the temptation to settle for this bare minimum.
The Shift to 16GB: A New Standard
Until 2024, 8GB of RAM was the industry standard for laptops. That changed when Microsoft launched its Copilot+ PC initiative, mandating that new laptops be equipped with at least 16GB for optimal performance. Apple followed suit, doubling the base RAM of its MacBook Air from 8GB to 16GB—without an increase in its $999 price tag.
Fast forward to 2026, and analysts are predicting that the cost of memory will skyrocket by nearly 90-95% in just the first quarter. The only MacBook model with less than 16GB now available is the MacBook Neo, while Dell has brought back its XPS 13 with the outdated 8GB base model after a hiatus.
While 4GB is the bare minimum to run Windows 11, practical usage of the 8GB XPS 13 often leads to significant limitations. Our testing found that nearly 80% of memory was utilized by background processes right after boot-up, leaving users grappling with sluggish performance—particularly when multitasking.
The Driving Forces Behind Reduced RAM
Typically, memory and storage contribute about 15% to a laptop’s manufacturing cost. This percentage has nearly doubled as of early 2026. According to analysts from OpenBrand, manufacturers have started incorporating lower-spec models to preserve familiar price points like $599 and $799.
Notably, Samsung’s stellar third-quarter performance showed an operating profit exceeding $80 billion, with a significant portion attributed to memory. Conversely, Micron shut down its consumer RAM brand Crucial: a move to redirect resources towards major AI data center clients—one of the primary drivers of overinflated RAM prices.
Is the Upgrade to 16GB Worth It?
For Dell’s XPS 13, an upgrade from 8GB to 16GB costs $200, totaling $899 if you stick with the base 256GB storage option. While it may seem like a steep investment for just another 8GB, for most users—barring the most casual ones—it’s an essential upgrade. On the other hand, Apple’s Mac lineup doesn’t allow for these choices. The most affordable MacBook with 16GB is the $1,299 M5 MacBook Air, a $300 increase from the last-gen model, but with double the base storage.
Brands like MSI have started offering older DDR4 memory options for their laptops, while Framework suggests DIY upgrades to accommodate rising DDR5 costs. Laptops equipped with upgradeable RAM not only let you start with a lower specification but also provide flexibility as prices fall.
With forecasts suggesting that PC prices could rise an additional 5% to 20% within the year, it’s clear that purchasing an 8GB laptop today may lead to regret down the line. As the market adjusts, the decision to settle for limited RAM could hinder performance when you need it most.
In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, where performance expectations are continuously rising, securing at least 16GB of RAM is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity for a future-proof and efficient computing experience.