Apple finally gives in and declares that 8 GB of RAM is not enough

Apple recently held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where it announced a host of new hardware and software, including Apple Intelligence. At the conference, Apple also announced new software for developers, including Xcode 16, used to create apps for iOS and macOS. One of Xcode’s features now requires M-series silicon with at least 16GB of unified memory, marking the first time Apple has tacitly admitted that 8GB of memory won’t be enough in 2024.

The feature in Xcode 16 that now requires more than 8GB of memory is called Predictive Code Completion, according to XDA Developers. This feature uses machine learning to predict what code the author might want to write next, and it will simply write the code on its own. From what we understand, this is becoming a hot topic in the programming world as AI-based chatbots become more and more efficient at generating code. The company announced the Xcode 16 beta at the event and noted that this new feature would require an M-series chip with 16GB of unified memory.

There are probably millions of M-series machines out there in the wild with 8GB of memory, as that’s been the base model configuration since the M1 arrived in 2020. These machines will still be able to run Xcode 16 as well; they simply won’t be able to use this new feature. Apple’s release notes state: “Xcode 16 includes predictive code completion, powered by a machine learning model specially trained for the Swift and Apple SDKs. Predictive code completion requires a Mac with Apple silicon and 16 GB of unified memory, running macOS 15. (116310768). “

The requirement for 16GB of memory with an M-series chip is the first time Apple has made such requirements and could be the start of breaking the dam on Apple’s reliance on 8GB as basic model configuration for its Mac hardware. As of November 2023, Apple still claimed that 8GB on a Mac was the same as 16GB on a PC – so it was more than enough for most people. We have no doubt that this is true for a basic machine like the MacBook Air or a 24-inch iMac. But it’s a crime against humanity to offer 8GB of memory on a machine designed for demanding workloads like the MacBook Pro.

Apple customers have been begging the company to increase the minimum amount of memory in its base configuration from 8GB to 16GB for years. However, Apple likes money and it costs $200 to double the RAM in its laptops. Doubling the specifications of the base model would therefore have a detrimental impact on the number of people who opt to upgrade before purchasing a new Mac. However, given the requirements of the new Xcode functionality, it seems possible that the arrival of AI and associated tasks will eventually convince Apple to satisfy the demands of its customers.