Will DDR5 SO-DIMM fit your laptop?
Only if your laptop was built for DDR5 and has a SO-DIMM slot you can reach. Look up the memory section in the manual for your exact model number, not the series name, because two versions of one laptop can differ. Our laptop RAM page puts every laptop memory type side by side if you are not sure which one you have.
SO-DIMM is the short module for laptops and mini PCs. Kingston lists its FURY Impact DDR5 SO-DIMM at 69.6 mm by 30 mm, and a desktop stick will not go into that slot. A DDR4 module will not fit either, as its key notch is in another position. Older machines need our DDR4 laptop RAM page instead.
Many thin laptops use LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X soldered to the board, and then no upgrade is possible. CAMM2, the replaceable module standard JEDEC published in December 2023, is a different shape again: a laptop built for it does not take a SO-DIMM.
Which size and speed should you buy?
Aim for 32GB if the laptop has to last a few years. Newegg's tiers for 2026: 16GB covers browsing, office tasks, school and most 1080p gaming, while 32GB suits gaming with a browser open, photo editing and light video work. Microsoft already sets 16GB as the minimum for Copilot+ PCs. Our how much RAM you need guide goes through each use.
Speed matters less than it looks. DDR5 starts at 4800 MT/s, and Kingston sells FURY Impact SO-DIMMs up to 6400 MT/s, but the laptop sets the ceiling, not the module. When the manual names 5600 MT/s, the cheapest matching module costs £109.99 this week. Do not pay extra for 6000 unless your manual lists it.
Compare by price per GB so a 16GB and a 64GB kit sit on the same scale. The best price per GB on this page is £10.42, against a median of £14.69. Shops differ by 91% on their cheapest offer, so compare a few and add the delivery charge.
If both slots are already filled, you replace modules rather than add one. In that case buy a matched kit of two identical modules, and keep the old pair as a spare.
Should you buy now or wait?
TrendForce does not expect quick relief. It forecasts conventional DRAM contract prices to rise another 10 to 15% in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the market still undersupplied. In October it also said laptop brands may cut memory capacity to control costs, which makes upgrading a laptop you already own more attractive than buying a new one with less RAM.
Crucial is a special case. Micron ended Crucial shipments to shops in February 2026, so the Crucial SO-DIMMs left in the table are remaining stock, and Micron says it still honours the warranty. For desktop memory, see our DDR5 RAM prices.