Socketed RAM helps resale value.

Yes, socketed RAM generally holds better resale value than soldered.

Buyers who want to upgrade later are willing to pay more for a laptop they can keep relevant. Soldered RAM locks you into whatever configuration came from the factory — 8GB in 2024 is already tight, and that’s a hard sell used. Socketed means someone can drop in 32GB for $50 in a few years, which makes the machine more attractive at a higher price point.

The difference isn’t huge at the budget end — a cheap laptop is a cheap laptop either way. But in the mid-range and above, a socketed option can add 5-10% to the resale price. It’s not the deciding factor on its own, but it’s a clear advantage when two similar used laptops are competing.

Don’t stress about it if you’re buying for yourself and plan to keep it. But if you flip laptops regularly, socketed is the better bet.