Apple Raises Mac Mini Base Price by $200 Amid AI-Driven Supply Shortages

Deep News05:57

Apple has increased the starting price of its Mac mini desktop computer from $599 to $799 in response to inventory shortages and tight processor supplies driven by AI-related demand. The price adjustment was effectively implemented by discontinuing the entry-level configuration, which featured an M4 processor and 256GB of storage. The current base model still uses the same chip but now comes with 512GB of storage. The version equipped with the M4 Pro chip maintains its starting price of $1,399. The discontinuation of the $599 model followed its sell-out across most sales channels. Other configurations now face shipping delays of several weeks to months on Apple’s official website, with limited availability in physical retail stores. On Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook attributed the supply constraints partly to advanced-node production capacity limitations affecting the system-on-chip (SoC) that serves as the Mac mini’s core processor. He also noted that strong consumer interest in using Mac mini and Mac Studio devices for running artificial intelligence applications contributed to the shortages. These products are considered excellent platforms for operating AI and agent-based tools, and customer adoption has exceeded expectations, leading to higher-than-anticipated demand. Similarly, the MacBook Neo, which also started at $599, has experienced unexpectedly strong sales. Supply and demand for the Mac mini and Mac Studio may not stabilize for several months. Both devices can be configured with sufficient memory to run large language models locally, reducing reliance on cloud services. Apple plans to begin production of some Mac mini models in Houston later this year. According to media reports, the company is also preparing to launch an updated version of the Mac Studio by year-end. Earlier in March, Apple raised prices for several Mac products, including multiple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. Apple is not alone in increasing prices; companies such as Meta have recently raised prices for their devices as well.

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