Apple has quietly raised the starting price of its Mac Mini from $599 to $799, following the removal of the entry-level configuration with 256GB of storage from its online store. The discontinuation, first noted by industry observers, comes just one day after CEO Tim Cook warned investors that a chip shortage and rising memory costs would impact several Mac models in the coming months.
During the company's most recent earnings call, Cook stated, "If you look forward to June, the majority of our supply constraints will be on several Mac models." He specifically pointed to the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio, saying, "We think looking forward that the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply-demand balance." Cook added that both devices experienced "higher-than-expected demand," partly driven by buyers using them with AI agents like OpenClaw.
The global memory shortage has been a major challenge for Apple and other device makers. Cook noted that the company expects "significantly higher memory costs" going forward, which could have an "increasing impact" on Apple's business. This shortage has forced many manufacturers to either raise prices or discontinue certain models. Apple itself halted sales of the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM in March, and has boosted starting prices for new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
The cheapest Mac Mini now available offers 512GB of storage and Apple's M4 processor. This represents a $200 increase over the previous base model, which provided 256GB of storage. The price adjustment reflects the broader trend in the tech industry, where AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory is squeezing supply chains and pushing costs upward.
The news comes as part of a series of price increases across Apple's product lineup. In recent months, the company has raised prices on several Mac models and discontinued lower-cost configurations. The Mac Mini's price hike is the latest example of how the global memory shortage is affecting consumers, making it more expensive to purchase even entry-level computing devices.
Industry analysts expect the memory shortage to persist into next year, with companies like Samsung warning that the situation could worsen. As a result, consumers may face higher prices for electronics across the board, from laptops to smartphones to desktop computers.
For now, Apple appears to be focusing on maintaining supply for higher-margin configurations while phasing out less profitable base models. The company has not announced any plans to reintroduce a $599 Mac Mini, and it remains unclear when supply constraints will ease.
The Mac Mini's price increase is a reminder of the fragility of global supply chains and the ripple effects that shortages in one component can have across the entire tech ecosystem. As AI continues to drive demand for memory and processing power, consumers may need to adapt to a new reality of higher prices and reduced availability for popular devices.
Source: The Verge News