Apple appears to have discontinued its cheapest Mac mini
Apple has discontinued its $599 Mac mini model, with the lowest-priced configuration now starting at $799 due to increased demand and supply constraints. The shift is likely influenced by the device's popularity for running local AI models and AI agents, as well as broader industry pressures on memory and storage costs. CEO Tim Cook acknowledged stronger-than-expected demand for AI-capable Mac models, which may delay supply from meeting demand for several months.
- ▪Apple has removed the $599 Mac mini model from its store, leaving the entry price at $799 with at least 512GB storage.
- ▪The Mac mini became popular for running local AI models and hosting AI agents, contributing to high demand.
- ▪CEO Tim Cook stated that Mac mini and Mac Studio demand has outpaced supply due to rapid customer adoption of AI features.
- ▪Apple recently increased the base storage and price of the MacBook Air to 512GB and $1099, citing memory and storage market conditions.
- ▪Unlike with the MacBook Air, there is currently no lower-cost alternative available to replace the discontinued Mac mini model.
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News Computing Apple appears to have discontinued its cheapest Mac mini By Ian Carlos Campbell May 1, 2026 4:33 pm EST Devindra Hardawar The AI industry's demand for memory, storage and powerful chips has finally come for the Mac mini. Apple has stopped selling its cheapest $599 model of the Mac mini, based on changes to the company's store page spotted by MacRumors. Only configurations that come with at least 512GB of storage and up are available, which means the Mac mini now effectively starts at $799. The tiny desktop's popular use as a home for local AI agents likely played a part in the change. Engadget has contacted Apple for confirmation that it's discontinuing the entry-level Mac mini. We'll update this article if we hear back.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews.
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