Apple Inc. has increased the starting price of its Mac mini desktop to $799, up from $599. This adjustment comes as the company has discontinued its lowest-tier configuration, which featured an M4 processor and 256 gigabytes of storage. The new model retains the same processor but now offers 512 gigabytes of storage.
Demand for artificial intelligence applications has contributed to inventory shortages, leading to the price change. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook noted that constraints related to the advanced nodes used in the production of system on a chip (SoC) are partly responsible for the supply issues. He highlighted a surge in consumer interest for both the Mac mini and Mac Studio, stating that these devices are increasingly seen as effective platforms for AI applications.
Delivery delays for several other Mac mini configurations have been reported, with some orders taking weeks or months to fulfill. Additionally, Apple plans to start production of certain Mac mini models in Houston later this year, moving away from its typical manufacturing locations in Asia. The company is also working on updated versions of the Mac Studio, expected to be released in the near future.