Apple has stopped selling the Mac mini model with 256 GB for $599, and now the main option is 512 GB at a price of $799.

Apple removes the base model of the Mac mini from its lineup

Last week Apple removed the base desktop computer Mac mini with 256 GB of storage and a price of $599 from its catalog. After a brief pause, the company announced that the device was “available,” but it is no longer on the site – production has likely been halted.

New starting price

The current minimum price for the Mac mini is $799. This is the cost of the model with an M4 processor and 512 GB of storage. In essence, the base version is now not 256 GB but 512 GB at $799 – this isn’t a price increase, it’s a configuration change.

Delivery times

- The Mac mini with an M4, 512 GB, and 16 GB of RAM will only be available in June. An order placed today promises delivery in the second or third week of June.

- If delivery dates continue to shift, the model may become “temporarily unavailable.”

- On the site, higher‑end Mac mini models (including all M4 variants with 32 GB of RAM) are marked as “unavailable.” Most of them have an expected wait time of 10–12 weeks.

- According to 9to5Mac, most configurations on Amazon are already sold out or only available by pre‑order.

Reasons for the shortage

During the second‑quarter earnings call, Tim Cook explained the shortage of Mac mini and Mac Studio: demand exceeded expectations due to “advanced manufacturing processes” in Apple’s chip production. He noted that these computers have become popular among AI users and agency tool users faster than anticipated.

Cook added that balancing supply and demand could take several months.

Small laptops, the MacBook Neo

Similarly, there is a shortage of laptops: Apple has faced “higher than expected” demand. On the site, delivery times for most MacBook Neo configurations range from 2 to 4 weeks, but in some regions you can get them the next day after ordering via Amazon.