Apple May Drop 8 GB RAM Models in Favor of 16 GB in New M4 Macs
Rumors and leaks suggest that Apple is planning an event on September 10, where the company is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup and other products, including updates to Macs and MacBooks.
According to recent information from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple may be planning a significant hardware shift by discontinuing the 8 GB RAM versions of its computers. This change would mark the end of an eight-year standard, with new models potentially launching with 16 GB of RAM as the base configuration.
This decision would represent a significant upgrade in Mac hardware, addressing long-standing criticisms that 8 GB of RAM is insufficient for modern machines. Additionally, this move contradicts statements made last year by Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing, who defended the 8 GB configuration.
Gurman also notes that all Macs equipped with the Apple Silicon M4 chip have been observed in testing with either 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM, further fueling speculation that the 8 GB version will be phased out. This would benefit consumers by eliminating the need to pay extra to upgrade to 16 GB of RAM.
Another interesting point mentioned is the possibility that the M4 chip will support up to 32 GB of memory, an increase from the 24 GB maximum supported by the M3 chip.
Additionally, Gurman cites tests of a simplified version of the M4 chip with an 8-core CPU and GPU. This suggests that Apple may be developing a more affordable variant, similar to the M4 chip found in the iPad Pro, which has 9 and 10 cores for the CPU and GPU, respectively. This simplified version could potentially offer up to 10 cores in both components if unlocked.
If these rumors are confirmed, we could see a significant shift in Apple’s product lineup, with a greater focus on delivering enhanced performance even in entry-level models.
