Apple Announces MacBook Air Now Starts With Increased 16GB of RAM With No Price Increase

[WarmWinterHat]

Thanks for telling me. I'd love a promotion display on a M4 MBA 😍

I might upgrade for that (and a 1+ TB drive as I have 512gb). I don't need a new computer, at all, but that would be kinda cool. Zero need for a MBP.

 

[Compote]

Don't worry; they will still complain about why Apple keeps making computers better and faster. Because no one needs all that power or memory. Absolutely no one!

My new 8GB M3 has already started swapping. I'm 100 GB short of a 256 SDD right now. It's a good deal to get more ram for free AND you can update to 512.

 

[MausKriminel]

Do storage next

 

[torana355]

Finally...
What do all the 8GB lovers do/say now?!

People didn't love 8gb, they just didn't see the need to fork out the ridiculous upgrade cost for ram they didn't need with basic use. Obviously Ai changes the baseline of what's needed.

 

[macrumors3000]

Giving away 16GB for free? That's $200 in lost revenue for every macbook sold

 

[Schrödinger’s]

If you bought through Apple retail store or online, most likely they won't. If you bought through MicroCenter, Best Buy, etc...they should have some type of price lock guarantee up to 30 days.

”Should Apple reduce the price on any Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days from the date you receive your product, visit an Apple Store location or contact Retail Customer Care at 1-800-MY-APPLEwithin 14 days of the price change to request a refund or credit of the difference in price. ”

Apple - Legal - Sales Policies - U.S. Retail Sales

www.apple.com

Return window is 14 days too, so in case of a price reduction you can choose to keep your item and get some money back.

 

[gugy]

Might be finally time to upgrade my M1.

Tempting but my M1 is so solid and great. I'll wait another year. M5 might be the one.

 

[gugy]

Bummed out with no display upgrades however, the TB5 announcement gives me hope next year we might see it. I just want a 32"+ ASD for around $2.5k.

 

[roar08]

Tempting but my M1 is so solid and great. I'll wait another year. M5 might be the one.

My 16" 64GB 2TB M1 Max has an AppleCare+ subscription. I'm legitimately curious when I'll ever have a real need to upgrade.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why not just slap a base M4 on it and call it a day? seems freakin' dumb with Apple Intelligence now out.

You just leaked the "Spring 2025 Update!"

 

[xmach]

Does this move to make 16 GB standard have any implications for Apple's pricing of refurbished MBA's? Have the refurb prices dropped by $200 on all models?

 

[Salty Pirate]

 

[Manzanito]

But that was impossible and every honest customer would have to pay through the nose for the unnecessary ram increase them whimsical brats were asking for. I know because folks in here said so 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[Kendo]

Same here, but back in March when the M3 Air launched. Curious on and pricing adjustments too.

Dude you used your computer for 8 months…

 

[Lion_Mini_Yosemite_rMBP]

Dude you used your computer for 8 months…

I’m not looking for an adjustment for my purchase from March. I was replying to the user that purchased theirs 3 weeks ago.

 

[tobybrut]

If I only had a nickel for how many defender posts I've read making Apple RAM out to be super special and thus rationalizing $200 for 8GB more vs. commoditized RAM available at retail for quantity 1 unit at peanuts. Here's absolute evidence that Apple RAM is not so expensive because we know they don't just throw away "nearly $200" cost for nothing.

And once again, I'm looking for those defenders who wrote thousands of posts about how 8GB was plenty for nearly all users to now rip into Apple for "forcing too much" RAM on all buyers. But I haven't even seen 1 such post yet... as if they didn't really mean what they were writing but just pushing whatever the company was selling. If they believed what they wrote as recently as last few weeks (and often throughout 2024), they should now find fault with Apple for "forcing" too much. Where's those comments? (rhetorical- we know- as Apple makes such hops, so evolves their passionate opinions to align with the Corp).

Congrats to all who look forward to buying base spec Macs at third party retailer sale prices. We finally were thrown a consumer bone instead of having every bit of focus on shareholder maximization. More of this Apple! More!

A magical side effect of delivering more consumer value is that it can move customers to BUY MORE and/or BUY NOW... which then benefits them shareholders too via volume accumulations instead of squeezing every penny out of each transaction.

Your logic makes no sense. What people argued before still applies. Apple increased the RAM because of the AI models they use on these devices that take up over 4GB of RAM. Prior to the existence of these language models, 16GB wasn’t needed for basic consumer Macs. I had guessed months ago that Apple would increase RAM to 12GB to compensate for AI. While 8GB is enough for everything else, eating up half the RAM with just AI would force an increase in RAM. Apple apparently agrees with me but upped it to 16GB instead.

Circumstances change but the argument that 8GB is enough for non-AI purposes is still valid.

 

[QCassidy352]

To my knowledge, every M-series Mac is listed as Apple Intelligence compatible, including all of the 8GB models.

Yes, but Apple’s rapid increase to 16 GB across the line concurrent with Apple Intelligence strongly suggests that they think 8 GB won’t make for a good experience.

 

[gugy]

My 16" 64GB 2TB M1 Max has an AppleCare+ subscription. I'm legitimately curious when I'll ever have a real need to upgrade.

At some point sure. The M1 is indeed a very well-built and solid machine. The TB5 might be a good reason to upgrade later, especially if the new displays are released. Either way, I am very happy with my M1 Max.

 

[Abazigal]

Finally...
What do all the 8GB lovers do/say now?!

What I have already said from day one.

I am still typing all this from an OG M1 MBA that is still going strong, nothing is going to happen to me, and good on all the new Mac owners who won't have to spring extra for the additional ram.

Were you all expecting me to commit hara kiri out of shame or something?

 

[WhisperingBobcat]

Yes, but Apple’s rapid increase to 16 GB across the line concurrent with Apple Intelligence strongly suggests that they think 8 GB won’t make for a good experience.

Wife got M2 15" MBA after it came out, 16 months ago, 8GB/256GB, after waiting for the bigger screen. I suspect that for her minimal or non-use of Apple AI, 8GB will still be good enough for years to come before the 8GB machines can't keep up.

I was a defender of 8GB then before AI was announced, but didn't recommend it to any family members after the announcement. Nephew has been hanging on to 2017 MBP with a suspect battery, waiting for a good 16/512 option for a couple of months, and now we know what is happening and have a plan. M4 Air 16/512 when released, or M2/M3 Air 16/512 on sale to make it worth pulling the trigger earlier if his battery dies.

I will live with my decision and I bet the wife never notices the difference (EDIT: at least for another 3-4 years). She just isn't a power user, but likes a nice big screen, iMessage integration, browsing, email, pictures, music, youtube, etc.

I am not so pleased that my $1000 iPhone 15 Plus with 6GB ram won't get AI at all, but I'll probably have an AI capable Mac Mini soon enough.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I bet the wife never notices the difference (EDIT: at least for another 3-4 years).

I'm pulling for her, but I worry about that timeline
Just look at how fast everyone is jumping off M1, which is only 4 years old

Hopefully Apple doesn't pull the rug out too quickly

 

[UnusedLoginID]

If you are asking about Apple, they don’t officially have a compensate policy, because someone wants the latest and greatest release.

I just bought my MBA with 16GB ram less than 3 weeks ago. Does anyone experience if they compensate in such a case?

Apple’s return policy is 14 days. You’ll have to have a manager at the Apple Store override it to return it if it’s been less than 3 weeks ago but more than 2 weeks ago. No credit possible, you’ll have to order the new one.

 

[mode11]

Why would you assume the base spec buyer would even remotely be aware of the feature set of Apple Intelligence?

They’re exactly the type of casual users who’d most like to make custom emojis.

 

[roar08]

At some point sure. The M1 is indeed a very well-built and solid machine. The TB5 might be a good reason to upgrade later, especially if the new displays are released. Either way, I am very happy with my M1 Max.

I don't need anything beyond the Studio Display. And I don't need TB5.

 

[QCassidy352]

Wife got M2 15" MBA after it came out, 16 months ago, 8GB/256GB, after waiting for the bigger screen. I suspect that for her minimal or non-use of Apple AI, 8GB will still be good enough for years to come before the 8GB machines can't keep up.

I was a defender of 8GB then before AI was announced, but didn't recommend it to any family members after the announcement. Nephew has been hanging on to 2017 MBP with a suspect battery, waiting for a good 16/512 option for a couple of months, and now we know what is happening and have a plan. M4 Air 16/512 when released, or M2/M3 Air 16/512 on sale to make it worth pulling the trigger earlier if his battery dies.

I will live with my decision and I bet the wife never notices the difference (EDIT: at least for another 3-4 years). She just isn't a power user, but likes a nice big screen, iMessage integration, browsing, email, pictures, music, youtube, etc.

I am not so pleased that my $1000 iPhone 15 Plus with 6GB ram won't get AI at all, but I'll probably have an AI capable Mac Mini soon enough.

I hear you. I have an Air M2 with 8/512 that’s close to two years old. I’m sure it will continue to be great for everything EXCEPT Apple Intelligence for a long time. I have a lot less confidence it’ll provide a good Apple Intelligence experience. Basic users who don’t care about Apple Intelligence will surely be well served by M1, M2, and M3 Macs for years to come.