GoKawiilLaptop makers keep selling 8GB RAM models despite RAM price surge
Dell's XPS 13 and Apple's entry-level MacBook still ship with 8GB of RAM, but prices have risen sharply this year—Dell's base configuration climbed $100 and Apple's MacBook went from $599 to $699 amid broader June price hikes. TrendForce reports that memory, storage and CPUs now account for 68 percent of a mainstream laptop's bill of materials.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
TrendForce predicts manufacturers will cut RAM further to protect margins next year, meaning 8GB configurations could become more common rather than disappearing. Buyers paying higher prices for the same low-memory specs as years ago are getting less value, which could make 8GB laptops a worse deal even as multitasking and software demands grow.
- Dell and Apple still sell 8GB RAM laptops despite rising component costs
- Prices for these base configurations have increased $100 or more this year
- TrendForce expects manufacturers to keep RAM low to protect profit margins
Crucial 16GB DDR5 SODIMM Laptop RAM — If you're set on avoiding overpriced 8GB laptops, upgrading a machine with user-accessible RAM is a smart way to future-proof it without paying inflated manufacturer markups. Crucial's SODIMM kits are a reliable, widely compatible way to boost multitasking performance on laptops that still allow memory upgrades.5
See Crucial 16GB DDR5 SODIMM Laptop RAM on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Luke James, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “RAM prices are crazy high, but do not settle for an 8GB laptop”
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