Will Apple’s new Macs finally justify their hefty price tags with increased memory options?

A prevailing criticism leveled against modern Mac computers is the meager 8GB of RAM in their entry-level configurations, sparking concerns about their overall performance and capacity to handle demanding tasks efficiently. The device is well-suited to compete with Windows-based counterparts that typically come equipped with 16GB of memory.

AppleInsider reports that Apple is developing four new Mac computers equipped with the powerful M4 chip. Despite the abundance of data, a crucial fact remains: all four fashion options come equipped with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM.

Apple’s prolonged delay to match the industry standard is finally being bridged, as the company introduces 8GB of RAM as a baseline feature across its range. Apple defended its decision last year by explaining that it uses unified memory architecture, which combines both system and graphics memory into a single pool, allowing for more efficient allocation and management of resources. The company contended that the amount of RAM (hardwired to the processor) should be equated with 16GB, despite differences across various platforms. However, this technology primarily accelerates memory recall speed rather than capacity. Additionally, numerous applications, such as multimedia editing, online gaming and heavy internet browsing with multiple tabs, significantly benefit from increased RAM capacity. It’s also worth noting that Apple charges a considerable $200 premium for the upgrade from 8GB to 16GB of RAM, highlighting the significant cost associated with increasing storage capacity.

It appears Apple may be primarily transitioning to 16GB of RAM for future AI-focused products. On-device AI models sometimes require resident memory for maximum responsiveness. It is likely that some Apple devices, particularly those focused on artificial intelligence capabilities, may require additional memory resources to function optimally.