32GB is the floor for 4K video editing now.

Yes, upgrade. 16GB is barely enough to open a 4K timeline in Premiere or DaVinci Resolve before you start adding effects, and the second you do, your system starts swapping to disk like crazy. That’s when everything slows down.

I’ve edited 4K on 16GB and it’s doable if you’re doing simple cuts with no color grading, no Fusion comps, and no After Effects. But “doable” is not the same as “pleasant.” 32GB lets you actually work without constantly checking your memory pressure or waiting for pauses. If you’re doing anything beyond basic trimming—multicam, stabilization, color grading—you want 32.

The only exception is if you’re using proxy workflows 100% of the time and never need to render in real time. But if you’re asking, you probably don’t want to babysit proxies. Future-proof yourself.

Buy the RAM now. You’ll never regret having headroom.