Looking for a laptop with 8GB of RAM? These are our favorite options.

Best
laptops with 8GB of RAM
Windows Central
2022

Best overall: HP Pavilion 15

The HP Pavilion 15 represents the ultimate balance between specs, design, and price. Its 11th Gen i5-1135G7 processor is very capable, Intel’s impressive Xe integrated graphics are better than any other integrated graphics you can get right now, and options for up to a 512GB SSD mean that you won’t be hurting for file space. The 15.6-inch FHD touch display is also great since it gets fairly bright and has good colors as well as great viewing angles. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support is included, too. The 7-hour battery life is slightly disappointing, but it will still be enough for most people.

In terms of its design, the HP Pavilion 15 features a chassis that’s nearly as sleek and stylish as more expensive and premium Ultrabook laptops. The keyboard and trackpad are both built well and are enjoyable to use, and the inclusion of a USB-C port as well as dual USB-A ports means you’ll have plenty of peripheral connectivity options. Ultimately, this is one of the best 8GB laptops available, making it our top choice.

If you’d like a convertible laptop with 8GB of RAM, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga 7i. You can configure it with an i5-1165G7, Intel Xe graphics, and up to 512GB of SSD space. The 14-inch FHD display supports touch, has 300 nits of brightness, and has good contrast and solid colors (it’s a little reflective, so it’s a little hard to see in direct sunlight). The 8-9-hour battery life is good, and support for both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 provides great connectivity.

The laptop has a sleek design that includes a full 360-degree rotation on the display and rounded edges that are both comfortable to contact with your hands and visually attractive. You also get dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB-A port, which is fantastic for a mid-range convertible like this. The keyboard is fantastic, and while the trackpad can be slightly unresponsive at times, it’s built well otherwise. Overall, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is a great 8GB RAM convertible.

The Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best 8GB gaming laptops on the market, delivering strong 1080p gaming performance for an attractive price (though you may not feel the same way about its aesthetics). Between its powerful i5-11400H CPU, NVIDIA GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 Ti, and its max 512GB of SSD storage, the Acer Nitro 5 perfect for 1080p gaming. The 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz display is a highlight as well, as it features high brightness, rich colors, and strong contrast. The 7-hour battery life is pretty good, too, especially when you consider how poor battery life tends to be with gaming devices. Be aware, however, that the battery will drain rapidly while actually gaming. Make sure you keep the charger handy when you’re out and about.

The design of the laptop is aggressively unique with its angular, edged design and black-and-red color scheme, and it also has its trackpad positioned on the left side. Both the keyboard and trackpad are excellent, and there are three USB-A ports as well as a single USB-C one included for plenty of peripheral connectivity. It’s not the thinnest laptop out there, and the webcam is a bit blurry, but that doesn’t stop the Acer Nitro 5 from standing tall as one of the best 8GB gaming laptops on the market.

The Acer Swift 3X is the ultimate 8GB laptop for folks who want something as portable as possible. Its impressively thin and light design makes carrying it around a breeze, but thanks to its i5-1135G7 processor, Intel Xe graphics, and 512GB of SSD storage space, you won’t need to worry about any performance compromises. The FHD display has strong colors, a matte finish, and up to 330 nits of brightness, all of which makes it a joy to use regardless of whether you’re inside or outside. The 9-10-hour battery life is good, and the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity is great as well.

The Acer Swift 3X is mostly notable because of how thin and light the device is, but the keyboard is excellent as well, and the inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 port as well as dual USB-A slots is ideal for good peripheral connectivity. The trackpad’s click resistance can be a little annoying, but at the end of the day, the Acer Swift 3X is still a fantastic portability-focused 8GB device.

Bottom line

You’ll need at least 8GB of RAM in your laptop if you want the user experience to be smooth and speedy, and while there are plenty of great laptops on the market with 8GB, the HP Pavilion 15 is our favorite. Its combination of quality specs, an excellent display, a premium design, and a fairly affordable price all make it the top pick on our list.

If none of the options in this list appeals to you, make sure you check out our roundup of the best Windows laptops. If you’d like even more RAM in your laptop, you should also review our list of the best laptops with 16GB of RAM as well.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide