Memory crunch: Mid-range laptops may slide back to 8GB RAM, analyst warns
Once a modest part of a PC, memory now costs enough to generate memes about aftermarket RAM DIMMs as a retirement fund. (We hate it.) But DIY builders aren’t the only ones suffering from the sky-high prices of DDR5 memory. Laptop buyers will get their own kick in the teeth, according to a new report. Think 8GB of memory in a mid-range laptop, when you could once expect 16GB.
These happy prospects come from the research consultants at TrendForce (h/t Notebookcheck.net). Their prediction: Even if suppliers still have inventory of laptops manufactured at lower production costs, prices will remain “stable.” But after that, configuration changes and “larger price fluctuations” will arrive in spring 2026. And unfortunately, these adjustments lead to a regression in laptop charging.
Previously, you could comfortably expect 8GB of RAM in a budget laptop, 16GB in a best mid-range laptop, and up to 64GB in a high-end laptop. Now, mid-range laptop shipments will start moving toward 8GB configurations. High-end laptops will be “centered” around a minimum of 16GB.
What about budget laptops? Thanks to the higher requirements of Windows 11, TrendNet predicts that reducing it below 8 GB would be “difficult” at the moment. Implication: We will see a price rise first before any memory blackout. This of course does not rule out declines in the more distant future.
If the idea of a 16GB RTX 5070 laptop or a 4GB budget laptop isn’t enough to depress you, similar carnage is headed to smartphones as well. TrendForce predicts memory spec reductions across the board, with entry- and mid-range phones returning to the current minimum defaults (4GB and less than 12GB, respectively). The top of the range will remain compliant with current standards (12 GB), rather than pushing the limits to 16 GB.
As the golden era of recent years fades, consumers will need to take a close look at laptop configurations to ensure they are getting value for their money. But this return to the past does not have to be borne alone, at least. At PCWorld, we can help: Our reviews and deals always carefully weigh specs and performance when making our recommendations for the best laptops and best laptop deals.
