For basic tasks like surfing the web, writing documents, and sending emails, 4GB can still work, but it might feel a bit slow at times. However, if you plan to do more demanding things like editing photos or videos, playing modern games, or running several programs at once, you'll probably want a laptop with 8GB or more RAM.
Think of RAM as your computer's short-term memory. Having more RAM is like having a bigger workspace to get things done faster and more smoothly. So, in 2023, consider getting a laptop with more than 4GB of RAM for a better overall experience.