Apple Raises Mac Mini Starting Price to $799, Discontinues 256GB Storage Amid AI-Driven Memory Shortage
Key Takeaways
- ▸Mac mini base price increases $200 from $599 to $799 as the 256GB storage option is discontinued
- ▸AI use cases are driving unexpectedly high demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio platforms
- ▸Global memory chip shortage, exacerbated by AI server facility buildouts, is forcing Apple to raise memory minimums and reduce configuration options
Summary
Apple has discontinued the 256GB storage option for its Mac mini worldwide, with the base model's starting price in the U.S. rising from $599 to $799. The new entry-level configuration includes the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, matching the previous price tier. Apple CEO Tim Cook cited higher-than-expected demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio as platforms for AI and agentic tools, with supply remaining constrained for several months. The global memory chip shortage, driven largely by companies building out AI infrastructure, is forcing Apple to consolidate its storage offerings. Cook indicated Apple anticipates significantly higher memory costs in the current quarter, with insufficient RAM availability driving the discontinuation of lower-storage options across the Mac lineup.
- Apple projects significantly higher memory costs this quarter, with supply-demand balance not expected for several months
