The PC industry is heading into what many analysts are calling “RAMageddon.” As 2026 approaches, a deepening imbalance in the global memory market is forcing laptop makers like Dell and Lenovo to make an unpopular compromise. Several mid-range laptops are expected to ship with just 8GB of DDR5 RAM, not because it is ideal, but because it is increasingly the only way to keep prices from spiralling.
For consumers, this represents a rare moment where hardware progress appears to be moving backwards while software demands continue to surge ahead.
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The memory crunch is not the result of manufacturing slowdowns. It is the consequence of a dramatic shift in priorities across the semiconductor industry. Memory giants such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are directing their most advanced production capacity toward AI data centres, where demand for high bandwidth memory and server grade DDR5 is both relentless and far more profitable.
This has pushed consumer PC makers to the back of the queue. Industry estimates suggest DDR5 contract prices have surged between 70 and 170 percent year over year, while memory now accounts for nearly one fifth of a laptop’s total component cost. For OEMs trying to hold popular laptops at familiar price points, absorbing those increases is no longer feasible.
Faced with the choice of raising prices by hundreds of dollars or reducing specifications, many brands are choosing to cap RAM at 8GB for mid-range systems. It keeps sticker prices stable, but at the cost of long-term usability.
This downgrade comes at the worst possible time for Windows users. While Microsoft lists 4GB of RAM as the minimum requirement to install Windows 11, that number reflects technical compatibility rather than real-world performance.
In practice, Windows 11 typically uses 3.5GB to 4.5GB of RAM at idle. On an 8GB system, that leaves very little headroom for browsers, productivity apps, or background services. Once memory pressure builds, Windows begins swapping data to the SSD, leading to stutters, delayed responses, and sluggish multitasking.
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The result is a system that technically meets requirements but feels slow under everyday workloads. In effect, 8GB has become the new survival minimum, not a comfortable baseline.
Microsoft’s own roadmap highlights how stark this gap is becoming. For its new class of Copilot+ PCs, which represent the company’s vision for the future of Windows, Microsoft mandates a minimum of 16GB DDR5 or LPDDR5 RAM.
This creates a clear divide heading into 2026. Systems with 16GB or more can run local AI features, handle heavier multitasking, and maintain a responsive feel. Meanwhile, brand-new 8GB laptops may be locked out of flagship Windows AI features and feel constrained almost immediately, despite being sold as modern machines.
Industry watchers suggest that now may be the best time to buy a laptop with 16GB or 32GB of RAM. As existing stockpiles are depleted in early 2026, higher memory costs are expected to translate directly into higher MSRPs, even for premium configurations.
For those who must buy in 2026, the advice is clear. Avoid the 8GB trap unless the laptop offers user-upgradeable SODIMM slots. In an era defined by RAMageddon, the ability to add your own memory may be the only safeguard against a Windows 11 laptop feeling obsolete the moment it boots.
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