How much RAM are you going to get in your new MacBook Air?

[kschendel]

Looking for some genuine input from others here because it seems every thread I read about RAM paints 8GB as a devilish decision.
...

I'd normally tell someone to get 16 GB for this workload. 8 GB is probably usable if you only hit your max load situation rarely, and don't mind a little bit of slowdown. The one thing that might make a difference in your case is that you say you change computers often. An 8 GB machine might be a little harder to resell, it's good enough for casual usage though.

 

[nordique]

Likely just 8gb for me

I am target demographic for this laptop, just office and zoom, mail and safari mostly these days

Looking forward to MagSafe. My favourite feature I’m glad they brought it back

Will upgrade to 512SSD though

 

[EugW]

This video compares three identically configured M2 MacBook Airs aside from RAM:

General summary of results:

8 GB good for business productivity
16 GB good for content creation
24 GB good for content creation with multitasking but consider 14” MBP

 

[ilikewhey]

This video compares three identically configured M2 MacBook Airs aside from RAM:

General summary of results:

8 GB good for business productivity
16 GB good for content creation
24 GB good for content creation with multitasking but consider 14” MBP

with base 14 at 1599, even the 16gb mba can be considering for the 14inch.

 

[jdb8167]

This video compares three identically configured M2 MacBook Airs aside from RAM:

General summary of results:

8 GB good for business productivity
16 GB good for content creation
24 GB good for content creation with multitasking but consider 14” MBP

Good video.

24 GB also for development, Docker, and virtual machines. My usage.

 

[EugW]

Good video.

24 GB also for development, Docker, and virtual machines. My usage.

Yeah, for someone frequently using VMs, 24 GB seems like a no-brainer. Or at least 16 GB as the bare minimum (particularly if just running one VM).

BTW, I've seen posts in the past from people about how they could run VMs on 8 GB RAM. Well, sure, it can be done, but I wouldn't want to be in that situation on a frequent basis.

 

[jdb8167]

Yeah, for someone frequently using VMs, 24 GB seems like a no-brainer. Or at least 16 GB as the bare minimum (particularly if just running one VM).

BTW, I've seen posts in the past from people about how they could run VMs on 8 GB RAM. Well, sure, it can be done, but I wouldn't want to be in that situation on a frequent basis.

Giving a Linux VM 4 GB is probably workable. I don't know about Windows 11 on 4 GB. On the other hand, you wouldn't want to run anything else of consequence on your MacBook simultaneously.

 

[Technerd108]

This video compares three identically configured M2 MacBook Airs aside from RAM:

General summary of results:

8 GB good for business productivity
16 GB good for content creation
24 GB good for content creation with multitasking but consider 14” MBP

Great video. Perfect analysis.

If you are considering the M2 MBA there are a few key factors. Use case is most important. What are you doing with your Mac? If you are a heavy user doing video editing and 3d rendering often and intensively then you should consider getting a MBP 14"/16" but I would wait if I could until the newer models are released. You can save some cash getting the older M1 versions as some have said but if you are a heavy GPU user the M2 should have at least a 30% better GPU add the better efficiency cores and higher performance and it all adds up to a more powerful machine and better battery life so if you are a "Pro" user the M2 MBP 14" might be a lot better as it will be about 30% faster GPU performance across the board which is very significant and have better battery life which is huge for the 14".


All that being said for most people considering the M2 MBA they already know they are not "Pro" users and I would say if your workflow does not require sustained heavy loads then most people will fall into MBA territory. The regular M2 chip is very fast and efficient. A lot of workloads that are intensive but don't use both the GPU and CPU at the same time can be done with the M2 with ease.

The M2 MBA is the fastest MBA ever. On top of that the redesign makes it a much better machine overall.

If I were trying to configure a M2 MBA as the video above suggests 8gb might be okay for a majority of situations but it is a limiting factor while 16gb gives you an additional headroom and can add some serious performance gains in certain situations. If you want to keep your device from 2-5 years then the extra ram really makes sense. I would certainly recommend the extra Ram.

 

[jdb8167]

The current poll results give a very good representation of the MR members and shows how they are not remotely like average MacBook users.

Currently there are almost double the number of 24 GB users as 8 GB and almost 3x 16 GB vs 8 GB. I’m sure Apple wishes those percentages were the common case among all users.

I’d bet in the real world, 8 GB is more than double all other configs combined.

 

[RedNova6289]

I voted 16GB for my next laptop even though I am a basic user who uses 8GB today.

Once my MBA M1 is no longer functional, maybe we'll be at the M3 - at least I hope so.

 

[1BadManVan]

The current poll results give a very good representation of the MR members and shows how they are not remotely like average MacBook users.

Currently there are almost double the number of 24 GB users as 8 GB and almost 3x 16 GB vs 8 GB. I’m sure Apple wishes those percentages were the common case among all users.

I’d bet in the real world, 8 GB is more than double all other configs combined.

I agree, the base models are definitely their best sellers still, and for basic usage, nothing wrong with 8gb of ram yet. I could have gotten away with 8gb no issue, but want to keep this for as long as possible so I decided to future proof it a bit. No regrets here, but they definitely dont make these upgrades cheap either lol

 

[HarryPot]

I just ordered the 24GB one. I'm guessing it is not that common, since it says it's shipping all the way from China.

As for why 24GB? I'm a heavy multitasker and use Office 365.
Just using Office 365 Apps (Excel, Word, Teams, One Drive, Outlook), WhatsApp, Affinity Suite, Photos, dozens of Chrome/Safari tabs, Nova, Monday, Canva and Livechat makes my laptop unbearably slow at times with my current 8GB M1 MBA.

I suppose 16GB could have been enough, but I also occasionally use VM Ware, so 24GB made sense.

 

[Technerd108]

I just ordered the 24GB one. I'm guessing it is not that common, since it says it's shipping all the way from China.

As for why 24GB? I'm a heavy multitasker and use Office 365.
Just using Office 365 Apps (Excel, Word, Teams, One Drive, Outlook), WhatsApp, Affinity Suite, Photos, dozens of Chrome/Safari tabs, Nova, Monday, Canva and Livechat makes my laptop unbearably slow at times with my current 8GB M1 MBA.

I suppose 16GB could have been enough, but I also occasionally use VM Ware, so 24GB made sense.

If you can afford it and need it then why not? Better to have more than enough than not enough.

Enjoy it when it arrives! I think you will be very happy with it!

 

[HarryPot]

If you can afford it and need it then why not? Better to have more than enough than not enough.

Enjoy it when it arrives! I think you will be very happy with it!

I always get excited when getting a new Mac haha.
But yes, I'm sure it's going to be a great laptop.

 

[Technerd108]

I always get excited when getting a new Mac haha.
But yes, I'm sure it's going to be a great laptop.

Me too! Anticipation is half the fun!

 

[TorbenIbsen]

I'm gonna get 16gb because our household is planning on this being our only Mac. My wife and I will each have a user and I want to be able to switch back and forth without closing out of every app. This MBA will be replacing a 2012 mbp and 2015 mba that are now both no longer receiving os updates.

Between phones, iPads, etc we just have no need for us each to have our own laptop.

The big question for me is do I spend $100 for 2 extra gpu cores or is that a total waste of money?

Just wondering. Since this is going to be the only Mac in your household why not go for some medium configuration of an iMac 24"? There is 3 times as much screen area on iMac. We chose the "medium" model with 16 GB RAM and got Ethernet and the fingerprint feature which is very, very handy. - I assume that since it is a 2-person Mac it will be stationary in your home, of course.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Just wondering. Since this is going to be the only Mac in your household why not go for some medium configuration of an iMac 24"? There is 3 times as much screen area on iMac. We chose the "medium" model with 16 GB RAM and got Ethernet and the fingerprint feature which is very, very handy. - I assume that since it is a 2-person Mac it will be stationary in your home, of course.

I want the portability of a laptop. Got a 14” Pro on sale a couple months ago and love it.

 

[HarryPot]

I've just received the M2 MBA with 24gb RAM. It is a night and day difference from my previous M1 MBA with 8gb RAM.
Everything is instant, the previous M1 Mac was constantly showing the beachball.

So definitely, if you multitask a lot, go for at least 16GB of RAM.
Currently it says I'm using 17GB of RAM, App and Wired memory is lower, around 14GB. Not sure if 16GB would have been enough.

 

[EugW]

I've just received the M2 MBA with 24gb RAM. It is a night and day difference from my previous M1 MBA with 8gb RAM.
Everything is instant, the previous M1 Mac was constantly showing the beachball.

So definitely, if you multitask a lot, go for at least 16GB of RAM.
Currently it says I'm using 17GB of RAM, App and Wired memory is lower, around 14GB. Not sure if 16GB would have been enough.

What are you doing with it?

Do you have much compressed memory and/or swap? If not, 16 GB may have been enough. Or not. Anyhow, 24 GB gives a lot of cushion. Congrats!

 

[HarryPot]

What are you doing with it?

Do you have much compressed memory and/or swap? If not, 16 GB may have been enough. Or not. Anyhow, 24 GB gives a lot of cushion.

Compressed I have 4GB right now. No swap.

My usual day has these apps:
Office 365 Apps (Excel, Word, Teams, One Drive, Outlook), WhatsApp, Affinity Suite, Photos, dozens of Chrome/Safari tabs, Nova, Monday, Canva and Livechat. Many of these apps are web based (they have a name, which I don't remember), so they consume a lot of RAM.

24GB was really for when using VM Ware.

 

[StoneJack]

Got 8/256 M2 Air. Have absolutely smooth experience.
Before that used 16GB M1 Air, feels no difference.

 

[canadianpj]

When it comes to machines like this whereas you cannot add more later, I add as much as I can afford at the time which this time around was the 24GB.

 

[EugW]

When it comes to machines like this whereas you cannot add more later, I add as much as I can afford at the time which this time around was the 24GB.

Yeah but would you take it to 2 TB? Most people wouldn't. What about 10GigE? Most people wouldn't do that either.

Luckily you can add both of those after the fact though, via USB/TB.

 

[Corefile]

The most plentiful version of the M1 MBA is the 8/256 variety that is now selling for 800$. To get an M1 MBA 16/256 costs is $1165 on Amazon. Almost a 50% markup in price difference on Amazon between the two models. That's the value proposition for the MBA that the base model gets deep discounts and less popular models are not heavily discounted.

 

[EugW]

The most plentiful version of the M1 MBA is the 8/256 variety that is now selling for 800$. To get an M1 MBA 16/256 costs is $1165 on Amazon. Almost a 50% markup in price difference on Amazon between the two models. That's the value proposition for the MBA that the base model gets deep discounts and less popular models are not heavily discounted.

That's a fair point, but we usually don't get the discounts even on the base model here in Canada. Amazon.ca usually sticks religiously to Apple retail pricing.

In fact, technically it's more expensive at Amazon. Apple sells it for $1299, but Amazon.ca charges 99¢ more at $1299.99.