Laptop RAM capacity may soon go backwards, as analysts expect 8GB to become the mid-range standard again, due to ongoing shortages of RAM. High memory prices are now forcing device manufacturers to adjust their designs and pricing, so they can ensure a sustainable inventory and profitability.
According to market analysis firm TrendForce’s latest investigations, RAM prices are projected to rise sharply again in the first quarter of 2026. This will exert significant pressure on smartphone and laptop makers, who will then have no choice but to increase prices or reduce memory capacity in their products. Since the former strategy would exclude many potential buyers who have insufficient budgets, manufacturers are likely to adopt the latter approach too.
TrendForce indicates that mid-range laptops will still offer both 8GB and 16GB models, but shipments are shifting towards 8GB. This means that you may now have to pay as much for an 8GB laptop as you would have laid out for a 16GB model a couple of months ago. The firm also notes that high-end devices will focus more on 16GB RAM capacities, when they could reach 64GB before.
On the other hand, entry-level laptops will remain at 8GB since further reduction would be difficult in the short term. Performance with less than 8GB of memory would be abysmal. For instance, Windows 11 requires 4GB or greater to run, and that leaves little to nothing for apps and browsers, with the latter being notorious for high memory consumption. If memory capacity can’t go down, the price will undoubtedly go up. TrendForce believes this will also be the case for high-end ultra-thin notebooks, as their soldered DRAM can’t be cut down to reduce costs, due to stricter design limitations.
While this situation is unfortunate, it was bound to happen, since memory accounts for a large share of the BOM (bill of materials) cost in consumer devices, be it laptops or smartphones. TrendForce expects that even Apple, which has a wider profit margin than many hardware makers, to significantly increase its iPhone prices in Q1 2026. The most affected market segment will be low-end smartphones, where Trendforce predicts base models are likely to return to 4GB in 2026.
Overall, TrendForce forecasts significant price fluctuations in the PC market by the second quarter of 2026. While prices may remain stable for now thanks to leftover stocks, medium and long-term adjustments are inevitable. If this situation continues, software developers may be forced to optimise their apps to consume less memory. According to many industry experts, we are just at the beginning of this turmoil, and the situation will get worse before it gets better, so brace yourself.
