Another Mac Mini Option Goes MIA as Memory Shortage Rages On
Another Mac Mini Option Goes MIA as Memory Shortage Rages On
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/disappearing-macs-global-ram-crisis-likely-hits-apple/
Publish Date: 2026-05-04 16:15:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
If you’d been thinking of picking up an Apple Mac Mini anytime soon, think again. Several high-end Apple computers were listed last week as “currently unavailable” on the company’s online store, including multiple RAM-intensive configurations of the M4 Mac Mini and Mac Studio.
Now, even the cheapest Mac Mini configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD has been completely removed from Apple’s online store. Previously, this configuration was listed as out of stock, and there was an implication that it might return once Apple freed up the necessary components — now we have confirmation that this product isn’t coming back to shelves.
The product removal effectively changes the starting price for the M4 Mac Mini, as the cheapest available configuration is a $799 model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space. While RAMageddon is raising computer prices across the board, it’s becoming clear that less popular computer configurations just won’t be supported as parts get shifted to more important products.
Other affected products include high-end configurations like the 32GB and 64GB RAM options for the Mac Mini and the 128GB and 256GB options for the Mac Studio — though these products are only listed as being currently unavailable at the moment. Meanwhile, the available configurations for these computers are experiencing shipping delays, with Apple’s official listings citing up to 18 weeks.
This isn’t a uniquely Apple problem. Some manufacturers warn that the global RAM shortage, driven by the surge in demand for generative AI tools, will persist until at least 2030. With more than 70% of the global RAM supply earmarked for use by AI-compute corporate giants, stocking issues are a common sight across the computing industry right now, with prices for phones and laptops rising amid the supply crisis.
Storefront unavailability can sometimes be chalked up to preparation for a new announcement, but it’s unlikely that an M5 upgrade for these computers would be on the…
