8GB or 16GB Macbook Air M1 for 2022 and beyond

[aespana]

Hello guys!

I want to buy an Air M1 for this January/Febrary of 2022 and im thinking about the best configuration of RAM for at least 5 years. I really want to buy and keep this Air for the most time possible.

Im asking for RAm configuration since the capacity isn't a issue for me. Im perfectly fine with 256GB of SSD.

My workflow isn't something hard. Most for web browsing and work with Office (excel due the work). Nothing special but i want to do the best futureproof buy possible.

What do you think? 8GB is enough or i should go for those 16GB for this 5+ coming years. Please tell me your opinion

 

[chanerz]

For light duty, 8gb is enough.

 

[arvinsim]

Definitively get 16GB if you plan to keep your laptop for more than 2 years.

 

[glenthompson]

I had 8gb on my older Air and occasionally ran into memory problems. Decided to go 16gb on my iMac and think it was worth the price.

 

[Shirasaki]

Go with 16GB. Amazing (is it still?) software optimization can only go so far when you only have so much to work with. And you don’t want to find 3 years down the line workflow by then crushes RAM faster than M1 Processor.

IPhone 4s on iOS 9 and iPhone 6/6 Plus from launch are two perfect examples of why sufficient hardware RAM is important.

 

[aespana]

For light duty, 8gb is enough.

I know is light duty but 8GB will be enough for the next 3-5 years? That's my question

Definitively get 16GB if you plan to keep your laptop for more than 2 years.

Yeah. That's what i thinking. Also, every new MacOS has new features and new features needs more resources.

I had 8gb on my older Air and occasionally ran into memory problems. Decided to go 16gb on my iMac and think it was worth the price.

Perfect. Thank you for your experience!

Go with 16GB. Amazing (is it still?) software optimization can only go so far when you only have so much to work with. And you don’t want to find 3 years down the line workflow by then crushes RAM faster than M1 Processor.

IPhone 4s on iOS 9 and iPhone 6/6 Plus from launch are two perfect examples of why sufficient hardware RAM is important.

Exactly! IPhone 4S was a good phone killed by his low RAM. And with this ARM laptops it could happen same.

Thank you for all the comments guys! I definitely i'll go for a Air M1 with 16GB of RAM. Maybe maybe i could extend a little more my boudget to go for a 16GB with 512GB but i don't know, 256 is more than enough for me (but maybe not for the future but well).

PD: This multiquote option is awesome

 

[chanerz]

I'm still rocking my 2010 MacBook Pro with 8gb of ram. It'll survive in 5 years!

 

[wgonzvega]

I got the 8G and now after only a year I'm buying a 16G/512G version. The 8G/256G is running low on disk and high on memory pressure. You can get away with the 8G for now but your talking to keep the computer from 3-5 years. now. The best option is to get the 16G version.

 

[steve217]

This question comes up a lot around here and from the number the of people asking, I don't think this a concern that can be empirically addressed.

I've come to the conclusion:
1. If you have to ask if you need 8gb or 16gb, you probably only need 8gb.
2. If you're asking if you need 8gb or 16gb, then get 16gb. You won't wonder later if you should have upgraded.

But... if you do get 16gb, you may wonder later if you wasted your money.

If you get 8gb ... and never check activity monitor, you may never notice the difference.