In recent times, every time Apple launched base configurations of Mac gadgets with 8GB of RAM, the Cupertino-based tech big confronted backlash from shoppers arguing that 8GB of reminiscence is solely inadequate for in the present day’s calls for.
For instance, when Apple outfitted final 12 months’s MacBook Professional fashions with the M3 chip, critics expressed disappointment that the entry-level configuration solely provided 8GB of RAM.
“Apple has misplaced its thoughts,” one Reddit consumer mentioned.
When Apple dropped the M3 MacBook Air earlier this 12 months with the identical base configuration, it additionally sparked a spirited dialogue on social media about whether or not 8GB of RAM is sufficient.
It is the top of the 8GB of RAM Macs.
Credit score: Razulation / Shutterstock.com / Canva
Whether or not Apple is worried about assist for Apple Intelligence (the new AI suite requires extra reminiscence bandwidth) or has truly been listening to essential suggestions, it seems like the brand new batch of M4 MacBook Professional fashions now begin with 16GB of RAM. The identical might be mentioned for the brand new M4 iMac and M4 Mac mini fashions that dropped this week, too.
The dying of Macs with 8GB of RAM
Apple launched the brand new M4 MacBook Professional fashions on Wednesday, and so they all begin with a minimal of 16GB of RAM. As talked about, the lately dropped iMac and Mac mini additionally begin with 16GB of RAM.
Mashable Gentle Pace
M4 MacBook Professional promo picture on Apple’s web site
Credit score: Apple
Even the MacBook Air household now begins at 16GB of RAM, at no further value to shoppers.
You understand what which means? It is the top of an period.
Final 12 months, Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Advertising and marketing Bob Borchers claimed that “8GB [of RAM] on an M3 MacBook Professional might be analogous to 16GB on different programs” as a result of its machines make extra environment friendly use of reminiscence by superior reminiscence compression and a unified reminiscence structure.
This remark did not sit nicely with shoppers.
“There isn’t a means that having 8GB RAM will allow you to have the identical efficiency as a machine with 16,” Jordan Jackson mentioned in a Reddit thread on the topic.
“8 gigs is an absolute joke in the event you ever take into account doing one thing tougher that just a few Chrome tabs,” one other Redditor added.
As hinted earlier, we’re unsure whether or not Apple Intelligence or buyer listening has one thing to do with Apple’s new 16GB of RAM commonplace, however we’re not complaining.