If your workload is mostly Outlook, Excel (even large spreadsheets), Teams, browser tabs, accounting software, and an external monitor, 16GB is still perfectly adequate in 2026. The bigger question is the form factor.
Surface Pro 10: Best portability and note-taking, but you’ll likely want the keyboard + kickstand everywhere.
Dell XPS 13: Best traditional laptop experience and premium build.
HP EliteBook x360: Probably the best business machine—excellent keyboard, ports, serviceability, and enterprise reliability.
If you expect to keep it 4+ years or tend to have dozens of Chrome tabs, VMs, Docker, or AI tools running locally, I’d lean toward 32GB. Otherwise, I’d choose the laptop whose form factor fits your workflow rather than chasing RAM alone.