Microsoft’s base Surface Laptop drops to 8GB RAM as price rises
The Verge says the 2026 13-inch Surface Laptop keeps strong hardware but is held back by less memory and a higher $950 price.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Microsoft’s new entry-level 13-inch Surface Laptop has arrived with less memory and a higher starting price than last year’s model, according to The Verge. The change raises a basic buying question for Windows laptop shoppers: whether 8GB of RAM is still acceptable on a new Windows 11 machine at nearly $1,000.
The Verge reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto gave the 2026 Surface Laptop 13-inch a score of 6, citing the laptop’s familiar strengths but faulting Microsoft’s decision to ship the base model with 8GB of RAM. The reviewed configuration is listed at $950 through Microsoft and Best Buy.
According to The Verge, last year’s 13-inch Surface Laptop cost $900 and was easy to recommend for buyers who wanted a thin Windows notebook with build quality and battery life comparable to a MacBook Air. The new model keeps much of that appeal on the outside, Di Benedetto wrote, but cuts the memory allocation in half while raising the price.
Same chassis, weaker base spec
The configuration reviewed by The Verge includes an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. The listing also describes a 2K touchscreen and a platinum finish.
Di Benedetto said the hardware qualities he praised in the previous model remain present. The Verge’s review points to a tactile keyboard, a strong trackpad, a sharp and clear webcam and battery life that can easily reach 10 hours.
The problem, according to The Verge, is Windows 11 performance with 8GB of RAM. Di Benedetto wrote that The Verge had not tested a Windows laptop with that little memory in a long time and has argued for years that 8GB is too little for the operating system.
The review says Microsoft’s ownership of both the Surface line and Windows 11 did not solve that limitation. The Verge’s verdict lists “8GB of RAM on Windows 11 isn’t enough” as the leading drawback.
Memory pricing pressure
The Verge placed the review within its coverage of rising RAM prices and a global memory shortage. Di Benedetto attributed the new Surface configuration and price environment to that broader pressure, using the site’s shorthand “RAMageddon” for the market squeeze.
The publication also flagged the 256GB SSD as more restrictive than before because of higher storage prices. The review’s negatives included the higher cost compared with last year’s model and worse specifications at the entry level.
The result, according to The Verge, is a laptop with a strong physical design and battery life but a weaker value proposition. For buyers considering the base 2026 Surface Laptop 13-inch, the review’s central warning is clear: the machine’s design may still be good, but its memory configuration limits the Windows 11 experience.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.