Apple’s $599 M4 Mac mini is the latest casualty of the ongoing DRAM shortage. The machine is no longer available for purchase on Apple’s website.
It’s possible this is a sign that a new model with a faster processor is imminent. But for now, only the M4 Pro Mac mini is available, and with ridiculous wait times stretching into July.
Apple quietly removes its most affordable Mac desktop from sale
In October 2024, the Mac mini received its biggest redesign in over 15 years, along with a faster M4 chip. Despite the major improvements, it kept the machine’s price unchanged at $599.
The M4 Mac mini offers one of the most affordable ways to enter Apple’s ecosystem. And despite the small form factor, the mini remains one of the most powerful computers you can buy under $1,000.
Unfortunately, the machine has now fallen victim to the DRAM and NAND-apocalypse, with Apple listing the model as “Currently unavailable.” This comes within weeks of Apple pulling high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio configurations from its stores. Prior to that, the company discontinued the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM.
You may still be able to find the $599 M4 Mac mini at third-party retailers … if you’re lucky.
As of now, you can only order the M4 Pro Mac mini with 24GB of RAM from Apple’s website. However, the delivery times stretch to 10-12 weeks or longer.
M5 Mac mini on the way?
When Apple previously suddenly stopped taking orders for its products, it hinted at an imminent refresh. There’s optimism that this is what’s happening now. However, there are no solid rumors that a version of the Mac mini with Apple’s latest M5 processor will launch in the next few weeks.
A possible debut at WWDC 2026 in June has been mentioned by some tipsters, but others point to a launch in the fall.
Apple is also struggling to meet demand for the Mac Studio and no referees version it is expected for months. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple will not launch the M5 Max/Ultra Mac Studio until October this year.
If that’s the case, it’s evident that Apple is struggling to secure enough DRAM and NAND to meet increased demand for its desktop Macs. With prices for these components rising, it may have discontinued the base M4 Mac mini to protect its margins.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
2 responses to “Apple’s $599 Mac mini is no longer available”
Apple M chips do not have separate RAM, DRAM or any other component, it is a computer on a chip. Could this be related to the new factory in Texas that is building the Mini?
Apple silicon still has separate DRAM chips. They’re soldered right next to the processor, so the computer treats it as a single unit (as does Apple marketing) but physically speaking, it is still a chip on the board that Apple buys from a supplier.
A bit more information in this Mastodon thread here.