Why laptop manufacturers are massively returning to 8 GB of RAM

After several years of steadily increasing the amount of RAM in laptops, major vendors have started releasing models with 8 GB of memory in base configurations again. Tom's Hardware reports on this.

Reason for the return to 8 GB

The main factor has been a sharp rise in the price of DRAM. The price increase is linked to enormous demand for memory from companies building infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Manufacturers (Samsung, SK hynix, Micron) are reallocating capacity toward high-margin server modules, leading to shortages and price hikes in the consumer segment.

What is happening in the market

• As recently as 2024–2025, 16 GB was considered the new minimum standard. Microsoft even made this amount a mandatory requirement for Copilot+ PC devices.
• In 2026, the situation has changed. At the Computex 2026 trade show, several manufacturers introduced laptops with 8 GB of RAM.

Examples:

• Dell XPS 13 and Acer Aspire Go 15 based on Qualcomm Snapdragon
• Microsoft Surface Laptop for Business — base version with 8 GB priced from $1,300
• Apple's MacBook Neo also launched with 8 GB of RAM

The AI paradox

It is the development of artificial intelligence that first accelerated the transition to 16 GB, and now, due to rising memory prices, has forced manufacturers to once again offer more affordable configurations with 8 GB.

In brief

Due to a sharp rise in RAM prices caused by the AI boom, laptop manufacturers (Dell, Acer, Microsoft, and even Apple) have started returning to configurations with 8 GB of RAM. This trend runs counter to previous years when 16 GB was becoming the new standard. Now 8 GB is reappearing even in relatively expensive models to keep prices acceptable for buyers.