8GB RAM Laptops Are About to Flood the Market — and Why Upgrading Will Cost You More
Laptop buyers may soon notice a major shift in hardware configurations, as 8GB RAM laptops are expected to dominate the market due to worsening global memory shortages. According to a new industry report, rising DRAM constraints are forcing manufacturers to limit high-RAM options and significantly increase prices on premium configurations.
DRAM Shortages Reach Critical Levels for Laptop Makers
Memory supply issues have now reached what analysts describe as an “alarming level”, pushing laptop manufacturers to rethink pricing and inventory strategies. Companies are reportedly adjusting product lineups to protect profit margins, with some brands implementing price hikes of hundreds of dollars. Higher-memory laptops, especially those with 16GB or more RAM, are becoming increasingly expensive and harder to justify for mass-market buyers.
TrendForce reports that the mid-range notebook segment, which represents the largest share of global laptop sales, is expected to shift heavily toward 8GB RAM configurations. This move allows manufacturers to maintain a stable supply chain while coping with limited DRAM availability.
Aggressive Price Fluctuations Expected by 2026
The notebook market is undergoing long-term adjustments as memory shortages persist. TrendForce forecasts that price volatility will intensify by Q2 2026, particularly affecting laptops with higher memory capacities. While companies like Lenovo previously relied on large DRAM stockpiles to avoid steep price increases, those reserves are reportedly running low, forcing broader price hikes across the industry.
This trend contrasts sharply with earlier moves by software companies. In 2025, Microsoft set 16GB RAM as the baseline for Copilot-certified PCs. However, market realities may now push manufacturers and developers to prioritize efficiency, as higher RAM configurations become less accessible to average consumers.
High-RAM Upgrades Becoming Premium Features
Laptop buyers are already feeling the impact. Some manufacturers are charging up to $550 extra to upgrade from 16GB to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory. These pricing strategies are beginning to resemble Apple’s premium RAM upgrade model, signaling a wider industry shift.
What This Means for Consumers
As 8GB laptops become more common, software optimization will be critical to maintain performance. Developers may need to design applications that consume less memory, while consumers may need to adjust expectations when purchasing new devices.
Looking ahead to 2026, it’s clear that the PC industry faces mounting pressure to adapt. Without major changes in supply chains or memory production, 8GB RAM laptops could soon be the norm rather than the exception.
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