A:Answer When RAM "sticks" are paired, then the memory can operate in dual channel mode and realize better performance. Older laptops would provide two SO-DIMM slots so that the user could, for example, remove two smaller, slower packages and increase both the capacity and speed.
When one of the two are soldered to the motherboard, then that limits options. Insert a matching SO-DIMM in the slot and you can have dual channel access, but are now limited in capacity. Put a larger SO-DIMM, the overall capacity increases, but some of the access is only single channel - perhaps a 10%-15% reduction in performance. After replacing the SO-DIMM, you now have an extra sitting in a drawer.
ASUS advertised that this model would have 16GB soldered, presumably leaving the SO-DIMM slot empty. Out of the box everything is single channel. But this give the consumer the option of adding another 16GB for full dual channel or a max of 48GB with no "leftover" sitting in a drawer. DDR5 4800 SO-DIMMs are not common but will be eventually.
So people are upset that they through they had a better upgrade path, but its a "low end" solution for a BestBuy SKU
