In case you missed it, there’s a computing crisis going on right now. As the world continues to push more funds to AI infrastructure, the price of RAM is not just going up - it’s exploding.
The RAM price crisis for consumers is likely to hit just about anyone, whether you’re a work-from-home laptop user, a hardcore PC gamer, or just about anyone using a tech product in 2026 and beyond.
Here’s why Microsoft, Apple, and other platform holders are about to be hit with a wave of irony from their recent AI pushes.
First-hand experience
As I write this article, I’m using an M3 MacBook Air, which has 24GB of RAM. At the time, that was the highest amount, and would’ve cost a pretty penny had I not purchased the machine refurbished (Apple’s RAM prices have always been tough to swallow).
And, while I’m writing this in a Google Doc, with my emails open, some task managers running, and Spotify playing, my laptop’s Activity monitor says I’m using almost 16GB of that available RAM.
That’s admittedly a lot, and I don’t doubt I could optimize things with a click or two, but the key point here is I’m not running AI models, asking ChatGPT to draft an email for me, or whatever else Microsoft, Apple, and just about every other company seems to think the general public wants.
In the interest of balance, I switched to my Windows PC, too. Again, just using it for work and enjoying some music. While Notion can be a resource hog, and Chrome is notoriously hungry for RAM, my 32GB RAM was essentially halfway consumed just through relatively menial tasks.
Now, consider snipping that RAM allowance not just in half, but beyond that…
Welcome back to 2015
With the price surges for RAM, and demand seeing units bought up to be sent to data centers to boil the oceans for fake cat videos, reports have suggested that we’re going back to the Dark Ages - of 8GB RAM.
Expect new models to drop the available RAM considerably (unless, of course, you pay out the nose for increased amounts). A Windows laptop or Mac with 8GB of RAM in 2026? Stranger things have happened.
Of course, this puts the platforms themselves in a strange predicament. For years, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and just about any other operating system have been adding AI features that require additional RAM - but given slimming down models and machine learning tech to require less RAM is likely out of the question, will we see new features withdrawn from upcoming releases?
Apple is a great example of this. The company, for years, insisted on an 8GB baseline for Mac RAM, but with the arrival (if you can call it that) of Apple Intelligence, it’s doubled that in recent months - but might now be forced to revert given the prices involved.
Could the company that’s already behind the AI curve end up further behind? We’ll soon find out, with more M5 Mac models expected next year.
It’s not just computers
Then there are wider considerations outside of your laptop and desktop. The Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro have 12GB and 16GB of RAM, respectively, for handling their AI tasks, while the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro have 8GB and 16GB of RAM.
Does this mean Android and iOS will have to reconsider upcoming features? Given how bullish Google has been about putting AI into just about everything (including where it’s not wanted, some could say), this would be quite the admission to make.
Video game consoles also need RAM, with the current Xbox Series X and PS5 having 16GB each, while the recently released ROG Xbox Ally X has 24GB. With both Sony and Microsoft staring down the barrel of a fresh console generation, they’ll no doubt be monitoring the market - especially with reports suggesting each could begin manufacturing in late 2026.
Nintendo’s release of the Switch 2, while affected by tariffs, might have come at the perfect time. The system has 12GB of RAM, but it’s already out there, but there’s every chance an increased cost for RAM could lead to a price hike down the line.
I’ve not even included handheld PCs like the Steam Deck, the upcoming Steam Machine, and more, but it’s possible gaming could be set back big time as developers are forced to work within tighter confines.
It’s not looking good
It’s tough not to feel very “doom and gloom” as a tech enthusiast, and while you might be happy with your setup right now, upgrade time comes for us all - and it might be tough to find any real deals when that day comes.
As the world spins ever closer to the RAMpocalypse, how much will we lose before we reach that point?
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
- This hidden Windows 11 setting might be quietly draining your RAM — here's a quick fix
- Intel Panther Lake vs Snapdragon X2 Elite vs AMD Gorgon Point — one chip is already pulling ahead in 2026's CPU war
- MacBook and iPhone prices could rise in 2026, as Apple’s RAM supply advantage begins to fade
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
