Thoughts return to forbidden RAM upgrades as Raspberry Pi OS gets fresh lick of paint
New dock and app launcher arrive while soaring memory prices revive scrutiny of a two-year-old firmware restriction
Raspberry Pi OS has received a fresh update, with version 6.3 introduced in September 2026. The new desktop layout replaces the vintage taskbar with a dock at the bottom or a full-screen app launcher, offering three customization options. However, concerns have resurfaced regarding memory prices and firmware restrictions on RAM upgrades.
This has led to debates over whether upgrading RAM, a once common practice, will be possible in the future. Raspberry Pi Senior Principal Software Engineer Phil Elwell confirmed that newer firmware locks devices to their original RAM capacity, discouraging upgrades. Some resourceful hackers claim to downgrade to older bootloaders, but this is not officially supported.
The issue has even led to resellers selling misrepresented devices, highlighting the potential for abuse. Despite these challenges, Raspberry Pi OS remains a lightweight and affordable option for many users.
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