Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM
The Verge reviews the 2026 Microsoft Surface Laptop, concluding that 8GB of RAM is insufficient for modern Windows 11 performance. Despite excellent hardware build quality, the device struggles with multitasking and performance compared to its 16GB predecessor.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing gap between hardware specifications and the resource demands of modern operating systems, impacting consumer purchasing decisions.
Last year, Microsoft’s 13-inch Surface Laptop quickly became one of my favorite thin-and-light Windows notebooks. At $900, it was easy to recommend to anyone wanting MacBook Air–like build quality and battery life on Windows — I even convinced my sister to buy one on sale.
The review is based on objective performance testing and hardware evaluation without political or ideological framing.
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