Breaking: Apple Quietly Kills 256GB Mac Mini, Entry Price Soars 33%
Apple has abruptly removed the 256GB storage configuration for the Mac mini worldwide, effectively raising the entry price for the desktop computer. The base model now starts at $799 in the U.S., a significant jump from the previous $599 starting price.
The move, which took effect this week, eliminates the most affordable option for consumers seeking an Apple desktop. The new baseline configuration features the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
Customers who previously could purchase a new Mac mini for $599 now must spend at least $799. The 512GB configuration itself has not changed in price.
Supply Constraints and Memory Crisis Drive Decision
Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged during an earnings call this week that both the Mac mini and Mac Studio are facing severe supply constraints. “It may take several months for us to achieve supply-demand balance,” Cook said, attributing the shortage to “significantly higher memory costs” driven by companies building out AI server infrastructure.
The decision comes amid a global memory chip shortage, which is forcing Apple to make tough business choices. Cook noted that the Mac mini and Mac Studio are “amazing platforms for AI and agentic tools,” resulting in higher-than-expected demand.
“We are expecting significantly higher memory costs in the current quarter,” Cook said during the call. “This is a direct result of the tight availability of RAM across the industry.”
Background: A Gradual Shift in Pricing
The 256GB Mac mini had already been unavailable for order since last week, but it was officially removed from Apple’s configurator this week. The company has not issued a public statement on the change.
This move follows a similar pattern with the Mac Studio. In March, Apple stopped offering the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM, aligning its configurations upward as component costs rise.
Notably, Mac mini models equipped with the M4 Pro chip already started with 512GB of storage, so their pricing remains unaffected.
What This Means for Consumers and the Market
For buyers, the $200 price hike represents a 33% increase in the entry cost of the Mac mini. While the new base configuration offers double the storage and the same RAM, customers on a tight budget lose the most affordable Apple desktop option.
Industry analysts warn that this decision could push some consumers toward used or refurbished models, or even competing Windows mini PCs from brands like Intel and AMD.
“Apple is effectively pricing out a segment of the market that values low-cost entry into the macOS ecosystem,” said technology market analyst Sarah Chen. “The global memory crunch is real, but this shift also signals Apple’s confidence in the Mac mini’s value proposition at higher price points.”
Apple has not confirmed whether the 256GB configuration will return once memory supplies stabilize. For now, the cheapest way to buy a new Mac mini is $799.
This is a developing story. We have reached out to Apple for additional comment and will update this article if we receive a response.