Microsoft Says Windows 11 Is Up to 40% Faster on 8 GB of RAM

What changed

The biggest change is memory compression tuned for 8 GB machines. According to Davuluri, Windows can keep up to 2 GB more active data in RAM rather than leaning on storage, so a background tab or app is cheaper to bring back.

Smaller cuts add up too. On systems with up to 8 GB, the Widgets panel loads only when opened and frees more than 200 MB, while Office apps now use up to 360 MB less.

The fine print

The 40% figure comes from a single demonstration on an HP OmniBook 3 with a Snapdragon X Plus chip and 8 GB of RAM. The test opened 20 Edge tabs, a 4K video and large Office files in sequence, and compared timing with an earlier Windows build. Microsoft itself says it is not a benchmark. A separate 20% improvement in everyday experience comes from telemetry covering Start, Search and File Explorer on 8 GB machines.

Microsoft is also working to reduce duplicated components shared across apps and features. An internal project called Windows K2 aims to cut redundancy and simplify processes to make the system lighter.

Why it matters

Microsoft had pushed 16 GB as the sensible baseline and made it a requirement for Copilot+ PCs, so much of the extra RAM demand came from AI features rather than the OS alone. Meanwhile, free Windows 10 security updates for consumers run until October 2027, and Microsoft needs owners of older 8 GB machines to move to Windows 11 without paying for upgrades or a new PC. That pressure is sharper after the launch of the MacBook Neo, which has lower specs and a below-average laptop price.