[ppurka]

If I am not mistaken, the chipsets on the Intel NUC models are laptop chipsets. I have the Skylake Core i3 version and that supports up to 32G of LPDDR4 RAM (dual channel). Since the thin laptops typically have only one RAM slot, it makes sense why they are limited to only 16G.

With this in mind, my understanding is that it is perhaps a limitation of the current Intel chips for single RAM slots, combined with the reluctance of the laptop manufacturer to include dual channel memory in their (thin) laptops.

[rayiner]

Even the Macbook has dual-channel memory. They don't have RAM slots--they solder memory chips directly to the motherboard.

[ppurka]

Having RAM slots that are user serviceable and having them soldered directly into the motherboard is besides the point.

If there is only one RAM slot (whether soldered-on or otherwise), then the total memory that can be supported is at most 16G.

[rayiner]

There are no DIMM slots at all on an MB or MBP motherboard. There are bare memory chips soldered in a dual channel configuration.