Memory crunch: Mid-range laptops may slide back to 8GB RAM, analyst warns
Image: Gordon Mah Ung
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports that rising DDR5 memory prices may force mid-range laptops to drop from 16GB to 8GB RAM by spring 2026.
- TrendForce analysis suggests high-end laptops will standardize at 16GB instead of pushing higher, while smartphone memory specifications will also decrease across all tiers.
- These cost-driven changes require consumers to carefully consider memory specifications when purchasing new devices during this anticipated industry shift.
Once a humble part of a PC, memory now costs enough to spawn memes about spare RAM DIMMs as retirement funds. (We hate it.) But DIY builders aren’t the only ones taking the gut punch of staggering prices for DDR5 memory. According to a new report, laptop buyers have their own kick in the teeth coming. Think 8GB of memory in a mid-range laptop, when you once could expect 16GB.
This happy outlook comes courtesy of research consultants at TrendForce (h/t Notebookcheck.net). Their prediction: While vendors still have stock of laptops built at lower production costs, prices will remain “stable.” But after that, configuration changes and “more significant price fluctuations” will hit by spring 2026. And unfortunately, those tweaks mean regressions in notebook loadouts.
Previously, you could comfortably expect 8GB RAM in a budget laptop, 16GB in a better mid-range laptop, and as much as 64GB in a premium laptop. Now, shipments of mid-range laptops will begin leaning toward 8GB configurations. High-end laptops will “center” around a minimal 16GB.
And budget laptops? Thanks to Windows 11’s heavier demands, TrendNet predicts a reduction below 8GB would be “difficult” for now. Implication: We’ll first see rising prices before any memory cuts. That of course doesn’t rule out drops in the further future.
Should the thought of a 16GB RTX 5070 laptop or a 4GB budget laptop not be enough to depress you, similar carnage is headed for smartphones, too. TrendForce anticipates cuts to memory specifications across the board, with entry- and mid-level phones slipping back to current minimum defaults (4GB and under 12GB, respectively). High-end will hold at current standards (12GB), rather than push the envelope to 16GB.
With the golden times of recent years now fading, consumers will need to scrutinize laptop configurations closely to ensure getting the best bang for your buck. But this return to the past doesn’t have to be borne alone, at least. We at PCWorld can be a helping hand—our reviews and our deals always weigh specs and performance carefully when making our recommendation for the best laptops and best laptop deals.
Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor, PCWorld
A 14-year veteran of technology and video games journalism, Alaina Yee covers a variety of topics for PCWorld. Since joining the team in 2016, she’s written about CPUs, Windows, PC building, Chrome, Raspberry Pi, and much more—while also serving as PCWorld’s resident bargain hunter (#slickdeals). Currently her focus is on security, helping people understand how best to protect themselves online. Her work has previously appeared in PC Gamer, IGN, Maximum PC, and Official Xbox Magazine.
