Why do all these new 2020 Macs only have 8gb ram?

[Botts85]

They don’t have adequate storage or RAM, especially not for the kind of long term use someone with less income will need

Oh, come on. You're being at least as hyperbolic than Queen6.

I know a large number of users still on 4GB Intel Macs. My best friend is still using an 11" Air with 4GB of memory. She's pretty happy with it. SSD was the key to making them usable long term.

Many low income people are running used Macs from years and years ago. 8GB in an M1 is going to be plenty.

 

[Queen6]

Oh, come on. You're being at least as hyperbolic than Queen6.

I know a large number of users still on 4GB Intel Macs. My best friend is still using an 11" Air with 4GB of memory. She's pretty happy with it. SSD was the key to making them usable long term.

Many low income people are running used Macs from years and years ago. 8GB in an M1 is going to be plenty.

8GB is plenty for basic use and then some. Never bought a 13" or less Mac with more as no need for the intended use. All used in engineering roles, but the "experts" keep spouting you need to spend more with Apple just to surf the web 😂

Q-6

 

[maxoakland]

Oh, come on. You're being at least as hyperbolic than Queen6.

I know a large number of users still on 4GB Intel Macs. My best friend is still using an 11" Air with 4GB of memory. She's pretty happy with it. SSD was the key to making them usable long term.

Many low income people are running used Macs from years and years ago. 8GB in an M1 is going to be plenty.

What do they do with those computers?

 

[Arctic Moose]

What do they do with those computers?

Probably what most people do. Some social media, a little e-mail, perhaps a spreadsheet or two, a bit of online gambling and some porn every now and then.

(I have family members using base-model Macs from 2010.)

 

[flobach]

You can do a lot. I would run professional audio editing apps, and drive a 6K Studio Display XDR, all with 8GB of unified memory in a 2020 Mac mini.

A base model 8/256 Mac mini will run circles around your 2011 with 16GB of memory.

how is your memory pressure on the system monitor with this workload? Having a dozen tabs open in Microsoft edge, together with a few documents open and running two display link displays pushed my ram pressure to orange, and my 8/256 M1 air starts to occasionally stutter…

 

[NO🇳🇴]

Honestly in most cases the bottleneck is not the amount RAM or the speed of the processor, its peoples brains. "I'm going to push the internet symbol, to open my email, and read my email" 120 seconds later "I have now read my email" "mission accomplished"

2GB Ram is more than enough for many/most... And it doesn't stop working when it runs out of ram, it just levels with the user itself, and for some that's probably pretty satisfying haha.

 

[maxoakland]

Probably what most people do. Some social media, a little e-mail, perhaps a spreadsheet or two, a bit of online gambling and some porn every now and then.

(I have family members using base-model Macs from 2010.)

You understand that that’s not the use case for all people, right? I do a lot of heavy duty stuff with my computer like video editing which takes up a lot of RAM and storage. I’m also pretty poor. Being able to upgrade my RAM and storage was a great thing for me. 8GB RAM isn’t enough and their low end SSD isn’t enough either

 

[BeatCrazy]

how is your memory pressure on the system monitor with this workload? Having a dozen tabs open in Microsoft edge, together with a few documents open and running two display link displays pushed my ram pressure to orange, and my 8/256 M1 air starts to occasionally stutter…

Rarely gets to yellow. Although I no longer have the Mini, I tried today with my base M1 8/256 connected to my Pro Display XDR. In the past, I've gotten dropped frames on the macOS UI when I had a lot going on. Most people wouldn't notice, and I've never actually had apps 'not work' or crash because of the 8GB RAM. I don't really care if my Safari tabs have to refresh, the main apps never seem to slow down due to lack of RAM.

In your use case, dual DisplayLink displays is indeed a heavy workload, so 16GB makes sense.

This was about the highest I could get it to go.

 

[Tagbert]

how is your memory pressure on the system monitor with this workload? Having a dozen tabs open in Microsoft edge, together with a few documents open and running two display link displays pushed my ram pressure to orange, and my 8/256 M1 air starts to occasionally stutter…

You are dedicating RAM for two external displays. that likely is why your RAM is in the orange. Remember that the GPU shares the system RAM.

The base 8/256 Macs aren’t really designed for that kind of use. Obviously you can do it but you are pushing the envelope.

 

[Queen6]

You understand that that’s not the use case for all people, right? I do a lot of heavy duty stuff with my computer like video editing which takes up a lot of RAM and storage. I’m also pretty poor. Being able to upgrade my RAM and storage was a great thing for me. 8GB RAM isn’t enough and their low end SSD isn’t enough either

There's your answer. It's not reasonable to expect Apple to push up RAM & Storage and very likely cost for all base users. While we would all like to see the increase, won't happen until it's a requirement for the vast majority, which it's currently not.

Is what it is, if you need more performance and or storage you have to pay more regardless of platform. While I get your angst the base 13" models are fast notebooks, that easily surpass their Intel counterparts. Problem being there is no upgrade path, nor really practical with Apple Silicon.

I don't edit video, but from what I understand the base models will cope with 4K editing reasonably well, although may need to utilise an external drive which will be a factor slower.

Q-6

 

[Queen6]

You are dedicating RAM for two external displays. that likely is why your RAM is in the orange. Remember that the GPU shares the system RAM.

The base 8/256 Macs aren’t really designed for that kind of use. Obviously you can do it but you are pushing the envelope.

@flobach Is an Air so might be getting a little toasty which may also impact performance.

Q-6

 

[Arctic Moose]

You understand that that’s not the use case for all people, right?

Of course I understand that, which is why I have chosen 32GB/4TB for myself.

However, the question is why the base model is configured as it is, and the simple answer is that it provides an acceptable experience for most users.

Being able to upgrade my RAM and storage was a great thing for me.

I certainly get that, I have been upgrading all possible aspects of my Macs for over 25 years, including replacing both the hard drive and SuperDrive of my 2010 MacBook Pro with two SSDs.

However, I also understand (and agree with) the trade-offs of current Macs. Although I am not happy about the upgrade prices, I’m not surprised Apple takes this opportunity to generate a little more shareholder value, and it is probably the right move for Apple. I think what Apple could do is find a way to offer better upgrade discounts for students and hobbyists.

 

[Queen6]

Of course I understand that, which is why I have chosen 32GB/4TB for myself.

However, the question is why the base model is configured as it is, and the simple answer is that it provides an acceptable experience for most users.

I certainly get that, I have been upgrading all possible aspects of my Macs for over 25 years, including replacing both the hard drive and SuperDrive of my 2010 MacBook Pro with two SSDs.

However, I also understand (and agree with) the trade-offs of current Macs. Although I am not happy about the upgrade prices, I’m not surprised Apple takes this opportunity to generate a little more shareholder value, and it is probably the right move for Apple. I think what Apple could do is find a way to offer better upgrade discounts for students and hobbyists.

Well said. Personally, I was very sceptical of Apple Silicon, moment I touched an M1 I knew this was the right path. I entirely skipped the Intel 2016 MBP design as it simply didn't work for me as they were hobbled on multiple levels.

I don't love the lack of user upgrade or Apple's egregious pricing on in house upgrades, but they exist and like as not users benefit as I have done over the years. The other factor is Apple deploying its own silicon has finally got AMD/Intel to move forward...

The base M1 13" Mac's are and remain extremely capable systems. Those that have used one know this. Those that need more it's available at a cost, but's whats new.

Q-6

 

[kevink2]

Can’t fix my 2011 mac. Might be forced to buy new or used.

Why do the 2020/21 Macs only have 8gb ram and 256gb drives? What on earth can you do with 8gb and 256gb.
My 2011 has 16gb and 1tb.

Can all Of these new models be upgraded easily?

I just ordered one of these minimal units, replacing my 2015 MBP.
I'm upset with Apple, but prefer their laptops. Especially the keyboard/touchpad when sitting in recliner.

Early this year I replaced the drive in my MBP when it just up and died on me. The new MBP I had ordered ($3000) was way backordered and I cancelled. Then the drive died. So I replaced myself.

Now my battery was showing its age, and possibly bulging. For the $90 savings vs ifixit I decided to have Apple fix it. Then I get update that blaming the drive for the battery issue, and offering to replace both for $1200. No thank you. So I'll get the minimal one. No need to do Windows in a VM anymore, not really feasible unless I want to run the ARM windows. So get this one for portable use, I still have a decent Windows desktop and a Mac Mini 2018. I just won't have my most powerful computer be my laptop.

 

[MBAir2010]

Why do all these new 2020 Macs only have 8gb ram?

the developers at  watched too many 1970's sitcoms like 8 is enough.
oh what happy days we live in now!

 

[sifpilsen]

You understand that that’s not the use case for all people, right? I do a lot of heavy duty stuff with my computer like video editing which takes up a lot of RAM and storage. I’m also pretty poor. Being able to upgrade my RAM and storage was a great thing for me. 8GB RAM isn’t enough and their low end SSD isn’t enough either

In case of limited resources, you can still make the best out of it. Connect the display you need to do the workflow. Do you need 2x 4k? Or is one 4K and one HD display good enough? Close the lid, run in closed clamshell mode, that's one less display for the GPU. External drives for keeping bulky stuff you're finished using everyday(old video and photo projects). It is amazing how much more storage space you get for less than upgrading the SSD. Soldered RAM is worse to get around, so there you will have to make it up with either using more time for certain tasks, or save up for more on the next workstation.

Will it be a slower, suboptimal workflow? Yes. Will it fit you budget better? Yes. Everyone has to start somewhere, and it is not at the top for most people.

 

[Kung]

They don’t have adequate storage or RAM, especially not for the kind of long term use someone with less income will need

Stop trying to defend these bad practices. You clearly don’t have any experience with this and you’re just trying to shill for no good reason

While (as a nerd) I'd agree it'd be nice to have more RAM/storage....I would not at all say that they're not adequate. I know several people who own MacBooks and use them for their very successful photography/graphics editing businesses....and all of them own MacBooks that spec way lower on single-core performance and either slightly above or below my MBA M2 on multi-core.

With that said, while it's more than capable for what I do, I'd agree in general that laptops at a *MINIMUM* ought to start out at 16GB RAM/512GB SSD nowadays.

 

[NO🇳🇴]

Maybe it's to prevent the software team from getting lazy/optimizing? Because 16gb will eventually run out too... Android phones come with 16gb ram nowadays 😄

 

[Zest28]

Even my M1 12.9 iPad Pro runs out of 8GB RAM. I know MacRumors keep spewing the non-sense that 8GB RAM is enough, but it isn't.

I would only consider 8GB RAM if it is strictly a travel device only and you want it as cheap as possible (assuming that the SSD is fast enough).

 

[Lioness~]

This thread is like arguing why people only should have Black t-shirts vs. White's.

There's so many components involved when we chose the settings on our Mac's.
What apps/programs do we run, how many at a time, how used to Mac are we, how long do we estimate to have our Mac's, what were the last setting we had on our Mac's - how did that work out? How much money do we want to spend?

I assume there's a half dozen question more that we can ask ourselves before we buy and decide our settings on our Mac's.
Finally, find out yourself - don't listen to other people who don't know you, especially not if they are men, and think they can estimate your needs, depending on usually nothing 😂

 

[Boidem]

Even my M1 12.9 iPad Pro runs out of 8GB RAM.

What on earth are you trying to do with it??

 

[Zest28]

What on earth are you trying to do with it??

Nothing special. That is the point.

Even smartphones have 16GB RAM these days while mid-tier smartphones have 8GB RAM. And MacRumors is here spewing non-sense that on a laptop all you need is 8GB RAM?

 

[Boidem]

Nothing special.

No you must be doing SOMETHING extreme to use up all 8Gb on a tablet computer that isn't designed for heavy duty tasks. My iPad Air has 8Gb and I can't imagine ever using all of them. If you're finding an iPad Pro inadequate, then perhaps you bought the wrong device. I'd really like some evidence of 8Gb not being enough on an iPad.

And MacRumors is here spewing non-sense that on a laptop all you need is 8GB RAM?

It's not 'nonsense'. For most people, 8Gb is probably more than adequate. Apple know more about users' actual needs than you or anyone on this forum.

 

[Zest28]

No you must be doing SOMETHING extreme to use up all 8Gb on a tablet computer that isn't designed for heavy duty tasks. My iPad Air has 8Gb and I can't imagine ever using all of them. If you're finding an iPad Pro inadequate, then perhaps you bought the wrong device. I'd really like some evidence of 8Gb not being enough on an iPad.


It's not 'nonsense'. For most people, 8Gb is probably more than adequate. Apple know more about users' actual needs than you or anyone on this forum.

Please, Apple is just being cheap. Both my iPhone and iPad have constant reloading of apps due to insufficient RAM. And I'm doing nothing extreme on my M1 12.9 iPad Pro, just regular usage. Same with my iPhone which also runs out of RAM all the time.

But keep ignoring that other flagship smartphones come with 16 GB of RAM.

So you are saying laptops require less RAM than smartphones? Good joke.

 

[Marsikus]

8 GB is a lot for tablet or mobile, but it is very humble for working laptop or desktop.