A new Windows update makes laptops with 8 GB of memory run smoother, which could let budget buyers skip a pricier machine.
Microsoft has released a Windows update that helps laptops with 8 GB of memory handle many open apps and tabs better. The company says multitasking on these machines is up to 40% faster than it was in January. The update is free, and it matters most to people who own a budget laptop or plan to buy one.
Memory, or RAM, is the space where your computer keeps what you are using right now. Microsoft compares it to a desk, with a drawer as the slower storage drive. Windows used to push more things into the drawer, so apps and tabs had to reload. Now it can keep up to 2 GB more active data on the desk.
Microsoft tested a heavy workload without closing anything. It opened 20 Edge tabs, a 4K video, large Word, PowerPoint and Excel files, Outlook and File Explorer. The company says that setup ran 40% faster after the update. It also says its Office apps use less memory, saving up to 360 MB across Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. WhatsApp also improved by a double-digit amount.
Apple's MacBook Neo has 8 GB of memory and has been a hit at a lower price. Apple makes both the hardware and the software, so it can tune one for the other. Windows laptop makers cannot do that. Memory prices have also shot up in the age of AI, so more people may keep old laptops longer or pick cheaper models.
PCMag's Chris Hoffman had urged buyers to avoid 8 GB PCs. After testing the update, he softened. He ran several Chrome tabs, a Word window and Spotify without much slowdown. He still would not pick 8 GB for himself. But he said an average buyer who could save hundreds of dollars might be happy with the performance.
Most of the numbers come from Microsoft's own testing. Direct side-by-side tests against the MacBook Neo are still needed to see how Windows holds up. Heavy users may still want more memory.
If you are weighing a cheaper 8 GB Windows laptop, this update makes it a more realistic option, though independent comparisons are still coming.
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