In 2026, 16GB is the standard for comfortable multitasking. 8GB is the minimum — it works, but you’ll feel the limits with 15+ browser tabs, video calls, and Office open simultaneously. Most CLS refurbished laptops include 16GB as standard.
| Scenario | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
|---|---|---|
| 5 browser tabs + Office | Comfortable | Comfortable |
| 15+ tabs + video call | Starts to struggle | Smooth |
| 20+ tabs + multiple apps | Noticeably slow | Comfortable |
| Photo editing (Lightroom) | Possible but slow | Smooth |
| Video editing | Not recommended | Workable (32GB better) |
| Software development | Tight | Comfortable |
| Future-proofing | Limited — already minimum | Good for 3–5 years |
| CLS recommendation | Absolute minimum | ✓ Standard choice |
Windows 10/11 uses 3–4GB just sitting at the desktop. With 8GB, you have 4–5GB left for everything else. With 16GB, you have 12–13GB — a huge difference.
Each browser tab uses 100–300MB. With 20 tabs open, Chrome alone can use 3–5GB. On 8GB, that leaves almost nothing. On 16GB, still comfortable.
Video calls are memory-intensive. Teams or Zoom with camera on uses 500MB–1GB. Running a call while working in other apps is where 8GB hits its limit.
Word, Excel, Outlook each use 200–500MB. With 3 Office apps + browser + Teams, you’re easily at 8–10GB total. 8GB can’t handle this comfortably.
Most CLS refurbished laptops include 16GB RAM as standard. New consumer laptops at $800–$1,200 often ship with 8GB. You get more memory for less money with refurbished.
Some laptops allow RAM upgrades. Many modern thin laptops have soldered RAM — not upgradeable. Better to buy 16GB from the start than hope to upgrade later.
Most refurbished laptops from CLS include 16GB RAM, SSD, and Windows 11 Pro from $280. New consumer laptops at $800+ ship with 8GB. 12-month warranty. North Rocks showroom or free shipping.
LAST UPDATED · MAY 2026 · CLS TEAM
