Is 8GB of RAM Enough for MacBook Pro?

[Lakersfan74]

8GB is ok at 1299 but it’s a rip off at 1599.
The base model is popular due to the price not the ram. No one would be complaining if it was 16GB at 1599. A Pro machine should have more ram than an Air.

 

[captchasverybadman]

Interesting. Ive noticed more and more low end Windows devices offering 16GB as standard. I just bought one. I wot be buying a macbook again until it comes with 16 GB off the shelf. My Mini has consistent low memory issues. If I do not have 40 browser tabs open at once I am not being productive enuff

 

[Vasilisxd]

Same old greedy Apple.

 

[magicschoolbus]

lol this forum is filled with Mac enthusiasts; we can never have enough RAM.

But really; I have the 15 inch M2 Air with 8gigs and it hasn’t broken a sweat.. then again; I don’t use it for editing. If I did, never would have purchased 8gigs of ram.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

This is a disgusting business practice. It's gone over like a lead balloon in the automotive space

Tesla's global sales are flat-out exploding, and they have done this for years. People don't seem to mind it, at least when it comes to cars they actually want to own.

 

[MrMojo1]

The 8Gb Ram discussion goes on with another thread. 🤦‍♂️
MR/Apple fanboys/sycophants vs everyone elsewhere outside of MR/general public.
Let's see how many pages this thread grows as the other one was almost 30 pages.

Funny video 😂
The discussion thread on that video's topic is just as long & toxic as the ones here in MR. 🤦‍♀️

"Apple Explains Why MacBook Pro Only Has 8GB RAM"

 

[harriska2]

All I know is that MS Teams (and all the other MS Office apps) requires 16GB memory to run on a PC. I’m thinking the MBP is not twice as good with its memory use as a PC so, yeah, 16 GB should be minimum. That said, I don’t mind 8 GB base IF the upgrade to 16 and 32 weren’t an arm, leg, and torso.

 

[DoctorMesmer]

No if the hardware is in the device paying to unlock use of it would be awful. I can get by with 8gb of ram but wouldn’t want a machine that is locking a hardware feature behind a software paywall

That would hit the number of new computers Apple sold, so they won’t do it.

 

[platinumaqua]

This wouldn't be a controversy if Apple made memory user upgradeable.

And no, Apple isn't using some magically fast RAM chips. They're using standard LPDDR5X chips, just soldered onto the SoC instead of the motherboard.

 

[DoctorMesmer]

It's not about what's right, it's about price point. 8gb of ram keeps the base model at that price point. If they increased the base model ram, the base model wouldn't stay the same price. The new base model would be $200 more. They want a $1,600 computer, ram be damned.

Only because Apple charges $200 for $20 worth of RAM.

 

[kk200]

Why do you care whether the product name has pro on it with 8GB of RAM? How does the marketing term “pro” affect the performance of the Mac, especially when you wouldn’t be buying the base model to begin with?

because it is just cheating. Use fancy word and premium price to sell you some entry level product.

 

[kiranmk2]

No if the hardware is in the device paying to unlock use of it would be awful. I can get by with 8gb of ram but wouldn’t want a machine that is locking a hardware feature behind a software paywall

This is a disgusting business practice. It's gone over like a lead balloon in the automotive space

I think you are both thinking of subscriptions rather than a 1-off fee. This would be a great idea for the consumer and prolong the life of 2nd hand models. Unfortunately it will never happen as 1) it would eat into Apple's revenue (you bear the cost of the extra 8 GB up front and maybe never recover it) and 2) it would stop people upgrading to new MacBooks as often.

My own thoughts are that 8 GB on a machine marketed as Pro is pretty bad in 2023. For all the people saying it's fine, it's down to personal choice, how would they feel if even the top end M3 Max MBP came with 8 GB on all the non BTO units with the option to upgrade for more? If 8 GB is fine for most tasks why doesn't Apple make even more money from RAM upgrades?

The M3 MBP is for two groups of people as far as I can tell 1) people who want an MBA but with more ports and a better screen and 2) bulk corporate orders.

 

[JippaLippa]

It's the third year in a row I'm saying any half-serious machine should start with 16GB of ram.
It's mind blowing to see 8GB as an option, and as much as I love Apple, I'm tired ot swallowing their "8GB on a mac is like 16GB on a PC" thing...
I'm 100% sure 8GB on apple silicon are better than 8GB on a PC, but it's not 16GB.

 

[nawnp]

No, it's not, if you're spending $1600+ for 8 GB of Ram in 2023/24, you're insane. Even half that price or 5 years ago that was a bad deal.

 

[kk200]

Another thread some IDs need again defend Apple against everybody else. This game will become more often and more difficult.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Because it shouldn’t be called “Pro” if it isn’t as capable of handling professional workflows.

If you are buying a pro machine just for basic everyday tasks, you are overspending.

Apple didn’t define the marketing term “pro.” Why are you trying to make your personal preference about the standard for everyone?

 

[Apple_Robert]

because it is just cheating. Use fancy word and premium price to sell you some entry level product.

No cheating involved by Apple. Apple makes it clear what the specs are before purchase. Apple also makes associates available to answer customer questions before making a purchase.

Stop focusing on the marketing term and focus on whether or not a machine Apple sells can meet your needs, regardless of what name Apple calls a Mac.

 

[kk200]

Apple didn’t define the marketing term “pro.” Why are you trying to make your personal preference about the standard for everyone?

We don't need Apple to define Pro for us.

 

[lewchenko]

The fact that the memory is unified means you get even less memory available for programs to run in as the GPU is taking some of it.
Also bear in mind people buy their computers to last say 5 years or more. Will 8GB of shared memory be enough in 2028 ? My 2013 MacBook Pro came with 16GB!!

I personally think Apple is being tight & poor value for money on this topic.

 

[Apple_Robert]

We don't need Apple to define Pro for us.

Then stop trying to define it for everybody else.

 

[Bhy]

One of best realizations I came to in my "techy" life was the realization that I don't need a MBP. My company switched the spec to a MBA after the M-series transition, and I've been happy with it. So I agree that Daily Tasks and Light Usage don't need it, and if you're just using an MBP for that you've already wasted money.

Edit: that being said, I'm curious about the percentage of non-video compiling users that have actually run into barriers because of the entry-level 8gb?

I have had issues with the m1 Mini with 8gb running out of ram with just browser tabs open from ad heavy sites. (Macrumors can really do it with 6 or 8 tabs from the site open) Machine will slow to a crawl.

 

[kk200]

No cheating involved by Apple. Apple makes it clear what the specs are before purchase. Apple also makes associates available to answer customer questions before making a purchase.

Stop focusing on the marketing term and focus on whether or not a machine Apple sells can meet your needs, regardless of what name Apple calls a Mac.

It is good for you to not feel cheated.

 

[kk200]

Then stop trying to define it for everybody else.

Same to you

 

[Apple_Robert]

It is good for you to not feel cheated.

I have never felt cheated by Apple because I am an informed customer.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Same to you

I haven’t ever done that. You and some others in the thread are trying to do that .