Soldered RAM upgrades are for pros only.

No, you should not attempt this.

I get the appeal—upgrading a laptop from 8GB to 16GB for a fraction of the cost of a new machine. But soldered RAM (usually LPDDR, BGA) is a different beast than through-hole or even QFN components. The risk of lifting a pad, bridging balls, or cooking a nearby power management IC is real. One wrong temperature profile or a slight twitch of the hand and you have a dead motherboard.

Even with a decent hot air rework station, DIY enthusiasts lack the practice, proper stencils, preheating techniques, and—critically—the ability to source compatible RAM modules that are already balled and fluxed. Off-the-shelf LPDDR chips are not standard; they need exact matching to the CPU and firmware. And you’ll need a reballing station or new pre-balled chips, plus a microscope to inspect joints.

Most people who succeed have multiple failed boards in their past. If you value your laptop and your time, pay a pro or buy the RAM configuration you need from the start.

Future You deserves a working laptop, not a shelf brick.