[pjmlp]

It would be a brilliant move if it wasn't castrated with 8 GB, even my netbook from 2009 got upgraded to 16 GB during its lifetime, which ended in 2024.

A netbook from 2009, already had the capability to get RAM sticks up to 16 GB in total, go figure!

[AnonC]

But 8 GB on a Mac is way different (in a positive way) from 16 GB on a different OS. On Windows 11, I can’t even imagine anything lower than 32 GB being a decent experience.

[pjmlp]

Given the quality of macOS memory allocator that is whishful thinking.

My Windows 11 machines have 16 GB and work just fine.

[bigyabai]

It's kinda not. Windows has virtual memory compression by-default, and even most Linux distros provide zram as an install-time option.

[anakaine]

And they needed it.

An 8gb macbook air is sufficient for browsing, writing, and viewing. These machines are aimed at low end users / high school / cheap college machines.

[pjmlp]

Outside US those demographics will be buying cheaper PC laptops under 500 euro, with higher RAM.

Open a couple of Electron crap apps, and the 8 GB are gone.

[shizzy0]

I got the lowest of the low MacBooks on a black friday deal years ago for my wife that only had 8GB, thinking the same way. "It'll be fine for her needs." It was more than fine. It was good. Got myself one a month later. I don't know why but RAM is different on macOS.

[pjmlp]

Self suggestion I would say,

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255765423?sortBy=rank

It is not hard to find radar issues on the matter.

[kingkawn]

Is it a side effect of spiking ram prices and trying to meet their momentary price point?

[pjmlp]

It is a hard limit of using a phone SOC, it has what it has.

[deafpolygon]

the A18 has a hard limit of 8GB of addressable memory, iirc