As of this week, Apple has eliminated the 256GB storage option for the Mac mini, resulting in an increased starting price for the desktop model. The new base price for the Mac mini equipped with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is now $799, a significant rise from the previous starting price of $599 for the 256GB configuration.
While the 512GB configuration has always started at $799, customers can no longer purchase a Mac mini at the lower price point. The 256GB option had already been unavailable for order prior to this week's announcement, marking its complete removal from Apple's configurator. Models featuring the M4 Pro chip continue to offer a minimum of 512GB storage with no pricing changes.
During an earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that supply constraints for the Mac mini and Mac Studio are expected to persist for "several months." He cited a surge in demand for these models, particularly for their applications in AI and agentic tools, which has been exacerbated by a global memory chip shortage affecting the tech industry.