May 4, 2026, 3:27 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
For weeks, Apple has been experiencing supply issues with the Mac mini and Mac Studio. Several models are currently unavailable, and all others have long wait times. Now, Apple has even discontinued the base model of the Mac mini–raising the starting price for its cheapest computer by 250 euros.
256-GB Configuration Discontinued
As TECHBOOK reported at the end of April, the base model of the Mac mini was already no longer available. Previously, Apple had indicated wait times of up to five months for orders. Now, the company is taking it a step further by removing the cheapest Mac mini model with 256 GB of storage from sale entirely.
This raises the starting price for a new Mac mini from the previous 699 euros to a hefty 949 euros for the next larger version with 512 GB of storage. Both the chip (Apple M4) and the RAM (16 GB) remain unchanged. Currently, the only affordable alternative is the new MacBook Neo, which starts at 699 euros like the previous Mac mini base model.
What’s Going on at Apple? Mac Mini No Longer Available
RAM Crisis Hits Apple: 5-Month Wait for Mac Models
Demand Higher Than Expected
In the conference on the second quarter 2026 financial results, CEO Tim Cook spoke unusually directly about the ongoing supply issues with the Mac mini and Mac Studio, as reported by “MacRumors.” According to him, Apple expects it “could take several months for supply and demand to balance out.”
The company did not anticipate that the demand for the devices as a hardware platform for artificial intelligence would rise so quickly. According to Cook, the Mac mini and Mac Studio are “excellent platforms for AI and agentic tools.”
Additionally, there is a global shortage of memory chips, especially for RAM, caused by the expansion of data centers for AI applications. This results in lower margins for cheaper configurations. The now-discontinued Mac mini version with 256 GB of storage for 699 euros had the same 16 GB of RAM as the 512 GB version for 949 euros.
Also interesting: What new devices does Apple have in the pipeline?
M4 Pro Model Not Affected
Models of the Mac mini with the more powerful M4 Pro chip are not affected by the adjustment. These devices were already only available with at least 512 gigabytes of storage. Accordingly, the entry price for the M4 Pro upgrade remains unchanged at 1699 euros.
The situation is different for the Mac Studio, as Apple recently discontinued the highest configuration with M3 Ultra and 512 GB RAM. Shortly thereafter, the Mac Pro was completely removed from the portfolio–with no plans for a successor.