How Software Efficiency Can Help Offset Rising Memory Costs

October 9, 2026

Can software efficiency offset rising DRAM costs?

Apple demonstrated with the MacBook Neo that 8GB does not necessarily feel limiting when hardware and software are designed together. In our testing, the system handled multiple applications, video processing, and even several Apple Intelligence-enabled workflows surprisingly well despite its modest memory configuration.

The lightweight nature of macOS, the implementation of unified memory, and Apple’s vertical integration to control how software uses hardware allow the company to make compromises in BOM cost without degrading the user experience. Demand subsequently exceeded initial expectations, reinforcing our view that the $599-$699 price range remains attractive when OEMs can deliver the right user experience despite memory constraints.

Competitors in the mid-market segment, such as the Dell XPS 13, also only come equipped with 8GB of RAM to curb memory costs. This highlights the more consequential battle occurring in DRAM. In March, Microsoft committed to reducing Windows 11’s baseline memory footprint, thereby freeing up more capacity for applications. It has since detailed changes ranging from a more efficient memory allocator and lower-memory WinUI 3 applications to reductions in Chromium and WebView2 overhead.

Microsoft is also limiting pre-launch activity on lower-memory PCs and reclaiming memory more quickly when Windows components are idle. Google is applying pressure from a different angle as well, as detailed in the table below.

NAND storage is also part of the equation

Huawei recently provided an interesting example of how ecosystem owners can fight rising memory costs without changing the underlying hardware. HarmonyOS 7 introduces “Hyperspace Storage Technology,” which Huawei says can reclaim up to 109GB of storage on a 1TB device by automatically managing storage in the background.

NAND is a smaller part of the RAMageddon problem compared to DRAM on a BOM cost basis, but it is still a crucial piece of higher device prices, with 300% year-over-year price increases in 2026. Mid-market PCs such as Apple’s MacBook Neo, Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe, and Dell's XPS 13 base configurations start with only 256GB–512GB of storage to hit a $599–$699 price point. As NAND costs continue to rise through 2027, making installed capacity go further becomes increasingly valuable.

What software efficiency means for PC and tablet OEMs

As memory inflation pressures PC and tablet replacement demand, software efficiency could give OEMs greater flexibility in balancing hardware costs and maintaining competitive pricing. The question is how far these optimizations can extend the capabilities of existing memory configurations without compromising the user experience.

Understanding these trade-offs requires more than looking at software improvements alone. Explore the full TechInsights analysis for a closer look at memory-saving strategies across ecosystems, supported by our memory and PC/tablet market forecasts and proprietary teardown-based BOM analysis. Together, these insights provide context for evaluating how rising memory costs could influence future device configurations and product strategies.