Last week, the base model Mac mini with 256GB of storage priced at $599 was completely sold out at the Apple Store. After long delays, Apple updated its shipping estimates to "available now."

Now Apple has taken the next step: the base model Mac mini priced at $599 is no longer listed on the website. This model is effectively discontinued.

Mac mini supply issues worsen

With this change, the starting price of the M4 Mac mini is now $799 for 512GB of storage. This is not an increase compared to yesterday's 512GB Mac mini price. However, it raises the lower limit of the Mac mini's configuration prices.

The 512GB M4 Mac mini equipped with 16GB of memory is currently available for backorder until June. If you order one today, according to Apple, you will receive it in the second or third week of June. If these shipping estimates continue to shift, it is certainly possible that Apple will also mark this as "not available now."

On Apple's website, various other high-capacity Mac mini configurations, including all M4 models with 32GB of memory, are listed as "not available now." Delivery times for many other models are indicated as 10-12 weeks.

Meanwhile, most configurations of the Mac mini are also widely available for backorder or completely sold out on Amazon.

In Apple's Q2 earnings call, Tim Cook attributed the Mac mini and Mac Studio shortages to higher-than-expected demand and the "advanced nodes" where Apple's chips are produced.

“The Mac mini and Mac Studio are great platforms for AI and agency tools, and customer awareness in this regard is happening faster than we anticipated, so we saw higher demand than expected.”

Cook added that achieving a supply-demand balance with the Mac mini and Mac Studio could take "a few months." So, if you hope this is a temporary situation, it might be wise to make other purchasing plans. Additionally, the complete removal of the 256GB Mac mini configuration from Apple's website is a good indication that it will never return.

In the world of MacBook Neo, Cook stated that the shortages stem from Apple seeing "higher demand than expected." On Apple's website, shipping times for the MacBook Neo are currently around 2-4 weeks for most configurations. On Amazon, there is a model available that you can receive as soon as tomorrow in some areas.

My favorite Mac accessories:

  • Logitech MX Master 4 Mouse
  • OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
  • Beats Pill
  • Twelve South BookArc
  • Satechi’s USB-C 165W GaN Charger

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