How much RAM does your PC actually need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert weighs in

One of the biggest impacts of Apple's switch from Intel to its own M-series silicon -- debuting with the M1 in the 2020 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini -- is faster, more stable, and more energy-efficient Macs and MacBooks. This is all thanks in ...

M5 Pro and M5 Max both use the same 18-core CPU die, but Pro uses a 20-core GPU die, and Max gets a 40-core GPU die. (Because the memory controller is also part of the GPU die, the Max chip still offers more memory bandwidth and supports higher memory configurations than the Pro one does.)

Is 8GB of RAM really enough for a MacBook in 2026? Short answer: Yes