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Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM
·1 min read
Key Takeaway
Last year, Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop quickly became one of my favorite thin-and-light Windows notebooks. At $900, it was easy to recommend to anyone wanting MacBook Air-like build quality and battery life on Windows - I even convinced my sister to buy one on sale.
Published July 17, 2026 · Category: Tech
Overview
Memory anxiety. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Last year, Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop quickly became one of my favorite thin-and-light Windows notebooks. At $900, it was easy to recommend to anyone wanting MacBook Air-like build quality and battery life on Windows - I even convinced my sister to buy one on sale.
But that was last year. This year, thanks to RAMageddon, that same laptop costs $950, and now that price gets you half as much RAM - just 8GB. It's the same great hardware on the outside, but it's not the same laptop on the inside.
It's been a long time since we tested a Windows laptop with so little RAM. We've been saying for years that 8GB isn't enough. But this is Mi …
What is "Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM" about?+
Last year, Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop quickly became one of my favorite thin-and-light Windows notebooks. At $900, it was easy to recommend to anyone wanting MacBook Air-like build quality and battery life on Windows - I even convinced my sister to buy one on sale. But that was last year. This year, thanks to RAMageddon, […]
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