You can't upgrade soldered RAM. That's the whole point.

The choice isn’t “upgrade or buy new” — it’s “buy new.” Soldered RAM is stuck there forever. There’s no upgrade path. No third-party service that can realistically swap memory chips on a laptop motherboard for less than a new machine. So the cost-effective answer is: sell your current laptop and buy one with the RAM you need.

If you’re asking because you’re shopping, avoid soldered-only laptops if you think you’ll want more memory later. Some models have one soldered stick and one slot — that’s fine. But “only soldered” means what you buy is what you get. Forever.

Future You will thank Past You for spending a little more up front.