DDR4 vs DDR5 vs LPDDR5 vs LPDDR5X: Laptop RAM Types Explained
Short answer: DDR5 and LPDDR5 are both faster than DDR4. LPDDR5 and LPDDR5X use less power and run at higher speeds, but they are soldered, so you can never add more. DDR4 and DDR5 usually come as removable sticks you can upgrade. So the real question is not only which is faster, but whether you buy enough RAM on day one. This guide explains each type and which of our laptop lines use which.
Updated 8 November 2026
The four laptop RAM types in one view
- DDR4: the older standard, usually 3200 MT/s in laptops. Common in Intel 11th and 12th Gen business laptops such as the EliteBook 840 G8, ProBook 440 G9 and Latitude 5440. Normally on removable SO-DIMM sticks.
- DDR5: the newer stick standard, from 4800 up to 5600 MT/s and beyond on the latest gaming laptops. Found in the EliteBook 840 G9 and newer, Lenovo LOQ, HP Victus 16 (2024) and most current gaming laptops. Normally upgradeable.
- LPDDR5: low-power DDR5, soldered on the motherboard, typically 4800 to 6400 MT/s. Used in thin laptops such as the ThinkPad T14s Gen 3, Latitude 7440 and MacBook Air M2 and M3.
- LPDDR5X: a faster low-power version, about 6400 to 8533 MT/s. Used in the MacBook Air M4, XPS 13 9340 and 9350, Zenbook S 14 and Snapdragon X laptops.
There is also LPDDR4X, the older soldered type found in laptops such as the Latitude 7430 and XPS 13 9310.
LPDDR5 vs DDR5: which is better for a laptop?
LPDDR5 vs DDR5 is mostly a trade-off between battery and flexibility.
- Speed: LPDDR5 often runs at a higher data rate than DDR5 sticks in the same generation, and LPDDR5X goes higher still. That helps integrated graphics a lot.
- Battery: LPDDR uses lower voltage and saves power, which is one reason thin laptops last longer on battery during load-shedding.
- Size: soldered chips take less space, so laptops can be thinner and lighter.
- Upgrades: this is the big downside. LPDDR5 cannot be upgraded. A DDR5 laptop with two slots can go from 16GB to 32GB or more later.
For a thin laptop you will use for office work, study and travel, LPDDR5 is better as long as you buy 16GB or more. For a gaming laptop or a work machine you want to keep for five years, DDR5 sticks are better because you can upgrade.
LPDDR5 vs DDR4: which is better?
LPDDR5 is clearly faster and more power-efficient than DDR4. In everyday use the difference is most visible with integrated graphics, such as Intel Iris Xe, Arc and AMD Radeon, because they use system RAM as video memory. A 13th Gen laptop with LPDDR5 will usually feel smoother in light games, photo editing and many browser tabs than the same chip with single-channel DDR4.
DDR4 still has two advantages: it is upgradeable and the parts are cheap and widely available in Pakistan, since so many used and Non Custom laptops use it. A DDR4 laptop with 16GB in dual channel is perfectly fine for students, office work and freelancing. A DDR4 laptop with only one 8GB stick is the weak spot; add a second stick to get dual channel.
LPDDR5 vs LPDDR5X
LPDDR5X is an upgraded version of LPDDR5 with higher speeds, roughly 6400 to 8533 MT/s compared with about 5500 to 6400 for LPDDR5, and slightly better efficiency. Both are soldered.
You will see LPDDR5X in newer chips: Apple M4 and M5 MacBooks, Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) laptops such as the XPS 13 9350, AMD Ryzen AI laptops and Snapdragon X laptops. In Lunar Lake laptops the memory even sits on the processor package itself. In practice LPDDR5X helps integrated graphics and AI features most. You do not choose it separately; it comes with the processor, so compare the whole laptop rather than the RAM label.
Soldered vs upgradeable: the decision that matters most
Speed differences between RAM types are smaller than the difference between 8GB and 16GB. So check how the RAM is fitted before buying:
- Two slots: fully upgradeable. EliteBook 840 G9 and G10, ProBook, Lenovo LOQ, HP Victus, Asus TUF and most gaming laptops.
- Soldered plus one slot: part fixed, one stick can be added. ThinkPad E14, Asus Vivobook 15 OLED and some Acer Aspire models.
- Fully soldered (LPDDR): what you buy is what you keep. MacBooks, XPS 13, ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Latitude 7000 series and most OLED ultrabooks.
Newer designs such as LPCAMM2 modules aim to bring upgradeable low-power memory to laptops, but very few models use them so far. Each model page in our catalogue lists the RAM type and slot layout in its specifications.
Can you mix or swap RAM types?
No. DDR4 and DDR5 sticks have different notches and do not fit each other's slots, and a laptop cannot be converted from one to the other because the memory controller is in the processor. LPDDR cannot be replaced at all. When upgrading a DDR4 or DDR5 laptop, match the type and speed of the existing stick, and buy a matching pair for dual channel where possible. Our RAM and SSD upgrade guide walks through the steps.
Which RAM type should you choose?
- Students and office users: any type is fine. Get 16GB, and if it is DDR4, make sure it runs in dual channel.
- Thin and light, long battery: LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X with 16GB at minimum, 32GB for developers and editors.
- Gamers: DDR5 in two slots, so you can go to 32GB later.
- Video editing and data work on a MacBook: unified LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X memory is very fast, but choose 16GB or more because it cannot be upgraded.
Our stock is Non Custom box pack, and every listing shows the RAM size. If you want an upgradeable model, pick from the two-slot models below.
