Spec sheets are your only reliable source for socketed RAM info.

You have to check the manufacturer’s official spec sheet — not a retailer page, not a review, not a forum. Most retailers (Amazon, Best Buy) list RAM capacity but not whether it’s soldered or socketed. Even reviews sometimes assume or generalize by model line.

Go to the laptop maker’s website. Find the exact model number. Look for a PDF or a specifications tab that says something like “Memory: 1x SODIMM slot (user-accessible)” or “Memory: 8GB soldered, no expansion.” If the spec sheet doesn’t say, email support or check a teardown video. But the spec sheet is usually the clearest answer.

Ultra-thin laptops (Dell XPS, MacBooks, Surface Laptops) are almost always soldered. Business lines (ThinkPad T series, HP EliteBooks) often have one socket or fully socketed RAM. Gaming laptops range wildly — lower-end models tend to solder 4–8GB and leave one open slot.

If you can’t find a clear yes/no in the spec sheet, move on to another laptop. The info is out there, but you have to dig past the marketing.