Bad news: why your next laptop may have 8 GB of RAM

The situation on the RAM market has reached a critical threshold which worries the entire IT industry. Supply constraints are now forcing major manufacturers to review their pricing and materials strategies, according to a new report. To maintain their profitability and secure their stocks, giants of the sector like Dell no longer hesitate to impose price increases described as absurd, sometimes costing hundreds of euros.

The great forced return of 8 GB

According to estimates from the analysis firm TrendForce, the mid-range laptop segment – ​​which represents the majority of sales – should see the 8 GB RAM configuration become widespread again. This technical step backwards, dictated by the need to maintain a fluid supply chain, goes against the trend observed in recent years.

Even players with large inventories, such as Lenovo, which had until now managed to contain inflation thanks to their inventory, now find themselves obliged to pass on the increase in costs. Price fluctuations are expected to become even more aggressive as we approach the second quarter of 2026.

Cost-effective upgrade options

The paradox is striking. In 2025, Microsoft had however established a standard of 16 GB of RAM for its Copilot certified PCs, encouraging the market to move upmarket. But economic reality is now catching up with these software ambitions. Developers may soon have to optimize their applications for lower amounts of memory, as access to 16 GB or 32 GB becomes financially prohibitive for the general public.

The report highlights that PC makers are getting dangerously close to Apple’s pricing practices when it comes to memory. As an example, Dell now charges up to $550 extra to upgrade from 16GB to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory. Elite pricing that risks redefining the IT landscape of 2026, forcing the market to make radical adjustments.

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