The MacBook Neo kickstarted an 8GB RAM trend and seeing new Windows 11 laptops from Dell, Acer, and Microsoft following its lead has me worried

Date:
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
What's good for the Neo is also good for the XPS and Surface? Price-wise,
that may be true but what about future-proofing?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter There's been a resurgence of
8GB laptops around Computex This is due to pricing pressures exerted by the component crisis Windows 11 laptop makers are following in the MacBook Neo's footsteps but is that wise? If you thought 8GB laptops were becoming a thing of the past, think again, because there's now something of a resurgence in notebooks with this RAM loadout and you can probably guess why.

Yes, this is down to the RAM crisis , with system memory now a lot more costly, meaning that notebook manufacturers looking to keep pricing more affordable are bringing back more 8GB devices at the mid-range level.
(Whereas previously in this space, we were effectively seeing 16GB as the
bare minimum.) Tom's Hardware noticed the trend at Computex (with this practice creeping in before the show), pointing out that the new Dell XPS 13 an impressively specced, affordable notebook starts at 8GB for the entry-level model (though you can buy it with 16GB, of course). Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

Other recently revealed notebooks with 8GB of RAM include the Acer Swift Air 14 which, like the baseline Dell XPS 13, is built around Intel 's new
Wildcat Lake silicon and the Chuwi UniBook (notably with a sub-$500 price tag).

Microsoft 's Surface Laptop for Business 13-inch, revealed last month, also starts at 8GB, which was a bit of a shock mainly because it means this entry-level device doesn't qualify as a Copilot+ PC (they need 16GB). You may like Apple's MacBook Neo triumph could also be great news for Windows 11 laptops Apple's going all-in with the MacBook Neo but Microsoft is fighting back The best laptops of Computex 2026

Of course, what set the stage for all this was the MacBook Neo emerging with 8GB of memory at a temptingly affordable price. The Neo has been highly successful , so much so that the rumor mill believes Apple has doubled the production run of its new MacBook for this year (from 5 million to 10 million units previous speculation that was backed up this week ).

Now we're seeing Intel Wildcat Lake chips and 8GB configurations being used
to produce more enticingly priced Windows 11 laptops, and this isn't limited to Intel's silicon either. Qualcomm's new Snapdragon C ( Arm -based) CPU is going to power affordable Windows 11 notebooks which are likely to run with 8GB of RAM, the Acer Aspire Go 15 being one of those. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Analysis: looking to the future (Image credit: Microsoft) The return of more 8GB laptops is not a surprise. Indeed, this is exactly what was predicted to happen in 2026. It's getting a lot trickier for laptop makers to keep prices down, what with the cost of a bunch of components rising most notably storage and RAM so the easiest way to keep price tags more affordable is to cut back on the latter.

And yes, there is room to cut down to 8GB of system memory. A laptop with
this loadout can still work fine, providing you're only doing basic daily tasks (emails, web browsing, watching videos, and light document work).

The MacBook Neo proved it can handle all this with aplomb, while being a surprisingly premium-like device to boot. Windows 11 laptops can do the same albeit with some more difficult headroom issues caused by the OS, although Microsoft is actively trying to reduce those performance issues with its fix Windows 11 campaign this year. What to read next Microsoft says 32GB of RAM
is the 'no worries' level for Windows 11 gaming Dell XPS 14 (2026) review:
one of the best Windows 11 laptops you can buy right now A new rumor suggests Apple's MacBook Neo could feature 12GB RAM next year

All in all, I'd say that it is okay to buy a Windows 11 laptop with 8GB of
RAM if you're just performing basic computing tasks for now. And there's the rub for me: worries around future-proofing, as discussed in my piece at the start of the year about whether 8GB is enough for a laptop in 2026 .

How long do you want your laptop to last you? I'm betting you'd like to get five years out of the device, or you may hope for even longer. So, while 8GB is enough for basic duties right now just about the likelihood is it'll start to feel increasingly ill-suited before too long, especially if AI
starts to figure more prominently in the everyday operation of an OS (and all bets indicate it will). And with laptop RAM being soldered to the motherboard (in the vast majority of cases), it's not like you can upgrade the memory.

The other argument is that you don't have to buy an 8GB laptop; you can go
for 16GB but some people want the option of going cheaper, as their notebook budget may require this. And that's fair enough I'd agree that more choice
is good. All I'll say is just bear in mind the future-proofing aspect, and push for a bit more memory with a Windows 11 device if you can.

What'll also be interesting to see is if more 12GB loadouts appear as a middle-ground option, giving more breathing room above an 8GB machine. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets
Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget: Apple MacBook Neo 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best thin and light: Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 5. Best Ultrabook Asus Zenbook S 16



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