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I am aware of that. Perhaps it’s time for that to change. On the other hand, RAM built to the CAMM2 standard - which isn’t far off - may be the next long-term solution.
It would be great if modular design were reintroduced across the board, but I don't think it will - people tend to want to most performance in the smallest (excepting the screen) and least expensive package - a modular laptop, like the type Framework sell, will come at a premium, and the premium will be for the modularity. As with Framework, ignoring their USP, the modularity, the performance of their machines is "just OK". That's going to be a stumbling block if they ever want to get beyond being a niche laptop supplier.
 
Yes, but the OP made an open ended/blanket statement that said "16 GB of ram is default in the MacBook Pros!" He made no distinction over model types.

Yes, but you chose to select a higher spec CPU and then said the MBPs start at 24gb of ram.

The M4 MacBook Pros start at 16gb of RAM.

I'm happy to debate where the line should start at in terms of RAM, but we should at least stay factual on what the actual base specs are, no?

Fair?

I think most normal folks would interpret the defaults as what loads up when you hit "buy" on the MBP page.


That gets you this:

Screenshot 2025-10-08 at 09.17.39.png
 
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Yes, but you chose to select a higher spec CPU and then said the MBPs start at 24gb of ram.
I showed all stock configurations for the 16" MBP, and all three configurations have > 16GB.

The base MacBook Pros start at 16gb of RAM.
Two out of the three 14" MBPs comes with 16GB and the third has 24. Again all stock not BTO

but we should at least stay factual on what the actual base specs are, no?
I agree 100%, the point is that for stock configurations, apple sells 6 models (3 14" models and 3 16" models), out of those 6 models, only 2 that start with 16GB.

The other problem with the rant, is that its easy for the consumer to upgrade the ram at time of purchase.

Definitely, why make complaints that apple does not offer choices when in fact we have choices and options.
 
Pro is just a name. Like how Space Black isn't actually from space.

That said, the M4 Pro comes with 24 GB. Can we talk about how awful that naming convention is? 14" MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. Ugh.
 
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I showed all stock configurations for the 16" MBP, and all three configurations have > 16GB.


Two out of the three 14" MBPs comes with 16GB and the third has 24. Again all stock not BTO


I agree 100%, the point is that for stock configurations, apple sells 6 models (3 14" models and 3 16" models), out of those 6 models, only 2 that start with 16GB.

The other problem with the rant, is that its easy for the consumer to upgrade the ram at time of purchase.


Definitely, why make complaints that apple does not offer choices when in fact we have choices and options.

I promise I'm not trying to be argumentative, but can we just be fair here?

The OP didn't mention anything about a 16" model specifically.

Also, the OP didn't say they don't offer choices .. they were upset that the line doesn't start at 16GB, across the board, for MacBook "pro" models. (which they do not)

I think anyone being reasonable understood what the complaint was.

There are, of course, ways to spec up the build and get more RAM.
That's 100% not the point of what the OP was saying.

You're very intelligent .. I have to think you know what the OP meant.

Honestly, I would just appreciate some acknowledgement of that.
It's seems incredibly obvious to anyone reading the original post.
 
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I really don’t understand how 16 GB of ram is default in the MacBook Pros! I should at least start from 32 GB of ram to be considered a Pro Device for that price.

Depends what you do with it really. I have a 16GB M1Pro and it still crushes my Final Cut Pro 4K x 4 multicam workflow (~1 hour projects). And that's with a bunch of other stuff open in the background.

If I was buying today, I'd probably step up to a bit more RAM, but to say that 16GB RAM isn't 'Pro' is a bit silly. Not everyone needs more than that, and the Professionals that do need more than that, know that they do.

I won't defend Apple's pricing though.
 
And that's why they use it. We no longer have the Good-Better-Best signs at the Apple Store, so adding buzzwords like Pro, Air, and Ultra mean things to people. Most of the people buying Pro devices are not using them for anything work-related. They aspire to be Pros. Same way a lot of people buy the Apple Watch Ultra because they want to be the cliff climbing, diving, rugged outdoor individuals in the ads, but a lot of them are geeks sitting at desks (and every chef on the Food Network for some reason). I am all for new buzzwords, though. I like how automotive trims have words like Elite, Premium, Limited, etc. Or just go full crazy with XLE, FX, etc. I would buy a MacBook Sport Touring.

Base level consumer in many ways, is where pro level performance used to be. This is why I am thinking of going from an M1 Pro 32/1 to an M4 Air 24/512. The compute in the M1 Macs was fine for me but I had to buy the M1 Pro to get more RAM and external monitor capability.
 
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I really don’t understand how 16 GB of ram is default in the MacBook Pros! I should at least start from 32 GB of ram to be considered a Pro Device for that price.
Wrong. Macbook Pro versus Macbook Air is not about some pro usage that you define how much RAM is cost-appropriate for each user.

Buyers make their own decisions. E.g.
• Some want to spend their computing lives with the much superior display of the Macbook Pro, fully independent of how much RAM their workflow needs.
• Some want to spend their computing lives with the much superior speakers of the Macbook Pro, fully independent of how much RAM their workflow needs.
• Some want to spend their computing lives with the much superior Max chip and 546 GB/s (versus the 120GB/s of the MBA) memory bandwidth of the Macbook Pro, fully independent of how much RAM their workflow needs.
• Some want to spend their computing lives with the much higher available RAM (128 GB MBP versus the 32 GB of the MBA) of the Macbook Pro, fully independent of how much RAM you proclaim that their workflow needs. If Apple fails to offer adequate available RAM on the higher end Macbook Pro line then we all should complain.
• Some simply want to spend their computing lives with the overall much superior Macbook Pro but they A) neither heavily multi-task nor use RAM demanding apps and B) are willing to tolerate a shorter life cycle. The Mac OS will unequivocally make 16 GB RAM work for such users.

No disrespect intended, but whines about wanting more tech (base RAM, display quality, WiFi, whatever) for no added cost get old. We get it, everyone wants more for less.
 
They have made it like that so they could sell you the upgrade for $200
Folks who like on statements like "They have made it like that so they could sell you the upgrade for $200" fail to grasp business and product pricing.

Apple makes base (16 GB-48 GB) RAM relatively low so the base boxes can be priced relatively lower and sell more $1600-$4000 base MBPs. Apple does not make it "like that so they could sell you the upgrade for $200." We agree that Apple overcharges for RAM <sigh>, but Apple's motivation for choosing their 16-48 GB base RAM amounts is not simplistically "so they could sell you the upgrade for $200." That is just silly.

Many users will suffice for years just fine with 16 GB RAM. Wanting Apple to waste money providing 2x RAM to them is nuts. Complain instead about Apple overcharging for the RAM upgrades that many of us consider important.
 
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They have made it like that so they could sell you the upgrade for $200
They have made it like that so that people will think “More is better and the base doesn’t have more so I’m forced to get more just in case I need more though I really have no idea if I need more or not!”

If the base came with 64 and there was an option for 128, it would still be, “The base shouldn’t ship with 64 if 128 is available as an option!!”
 
This, exactly!
What does the OP mean in saying that it’s insufficient for a “pro” device? What does it mean to be a “pro” device? I’m a professional (educator), and 16GB of RAM is quite sufficient for my needs.

Well, based on this forum, being a professional means you need lots and lots of RAM and your GPU must run Cyberpunk 2077 well.
 
The point is to have a low introductory price that they can advertise, knowing that many would want to upgrade to a slightly higher tier, but the low starting price is the hook that gets people looking

The number one reason it's frustrating that the base models aren't spec'd better (to me) is that one can't go grab them at 3rd party retailers (w/o the markup).

I don't buy anything direct from Apple, as they are a straight ripoff on their own products (vs 3rd parties, or certainly preowned)
Apple doesn’t want us to buy from third parties, at a discount and losing a cut of the profit. They need some reason to get you to buy from them instead. The low intro spec may help them with that, but obviously not ideal for us lol
 
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Depends what you do. I was quite happy to have a $20k workstation with a whole 128Mb of RAM once and I do the same work now!
Yup. All of us using computers as tools for decades had apps/OSs running under far, far less RAM in the past. Hardware competence constantly increases and apps/OSs constantly take advantage of more RAM as time goes on.

As we configure new boxes to last for 5-10 years we need to remember that 40-year truism: apps/OSs constantly take advantage of more RAM. Always.
 
I have a base-spec M2 Pro 14" with 16GB RAM, and I use it as my primary work machine. I make extensive use of Docker, and have (at time of writing this comment) 19 applications running including Safari, Docker, an IDE, Outlook, Teams, etc. I also have two 4K displays plugged in, so that'll be hitting RAM too (shared memory pool).

I've never - not once in the nearly three years I've had the machine - had an issue that I could pin on low available memory. The biggest constraint I've had is disk space if I was to complain about anything.

It's by far the best machine I've ever had, and I have no need for any more RAM than I have now. That might not be true for someone else who has different needs, but I feel the "16GB RAM is not enough" statement to be laughable.
You’re not “Pro’ing” it correctly!

/s
 
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