16GB is the minimum for running multiple VMs.

Yes, upgrading from 8GB to 16GB helps a lot, but it’s the floor, not the ceiling.

Each virtual machine wants its own chunk of RAM. If you’re running two modest VMs (say 4GB each), 16GB leaves you about 8GB for the host OS and whatever else you have open. That’s workable. With 8GB total, you’d be lucky to run one VM without swapping like crazy.

But three or more VMs? Or VMs that need 8GB each? You’ll run out fast. Also, every program you keep open—browser tabs, Slack, whatever—steals from that pool. So 16