Apple argues 8GB RAM on MacBook Pro is 'analogous' to 16GB on PCs

After Apple's recent announcement of the revamped lineup of M3-based MacBook Pros, some were surprised by the company's decision to introduce a more affordable version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip. What's concerning, is that this base model, starting at $1,599, comes with a mere 8GB of RAM.

However, Bob Borchers, Apple's VP of Worldwide Marketing, addressed concerns about the limited RAM in an interview with Chinese influencer and content creator Lin YiYi. He explained:

Comparing our memory to other system's memory actually isn't equivalent, because of the fact that we have such an efficient use of memory, and we use memory compression, and we have a unified memory architecture. Actually, 8GB on an M3 MacBook Pro is probably analogous to 16GB on other systems. We just happen to be able to use it much more efficiently. And so what I would say is I would have people come in and try what they want to do on their systems, and they will I think see incredible performance. If you look at the raw data and capabilities of these systems, it really is phenomenal.

This statement, although not entirely untrue, does not justify Apple's move of putting 8GB of memory in a notebook that boasts a 'Pro' moniker. While Apple's unified memory technology provides certain advantages over traditional memory, it doesn't change the fact that for some professional use cases, the physical amount of available memory remains crucial.

Moreover, the fact that Apple has had a rather long history of equipping their entry-level models with paltry amounts of RAM and storage while charging exorbitant amounts for upgrades, doesn't help the argument either.

It's worth noting that if someone is willing to look past the standard memory configuration, or upgrade it to 16GB for an extra US$200, the new base model 14" MacBook Pro offers several other features that justify its price, including a stunning Mini-LED XDR display with ProMotion, a generous selection of ports, and a best-in-class 6-speaker sound system.

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