- Apple’s entry-level $599 Mac mini with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM is no longer available
- It now starts at $799 for 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM
- Apple still quotes over a month for delivery
Less than 24 hours after Apple’s earnings call, in which CEO Tim Cook commented on supply chain issues plaguing the Mac mini — shipping dates for the popular entry-level Mac desktop device have dropped — the price has gone up, and the former mid-range model is the new entry-level model on Apple.com.
MacRumors was the first to spot this change, and the price has gone up internationally as well. The Mac mini now starts at £799 in the UK and AU$1,299 in Australia, both with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The article continues below
Basically, the $599 / £599 / AU$999 model with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage has been discontinued, and the previously mid-range $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 Mac mini with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is now entry-level. Same hardware specifications and costs, but the previous step-up price is now the entry point.
As we noted in our review, when this updated Mac mini hit the market, it delivered significant value, especially at a price of $599 in the US. That value is a bit tougher with a $200 increase in MSRP, but you could say the MacBook Neo takes that spot — albeit with less power — while still remaining affordable.
Given the ongoing RAM crisis, which is bleeding into inventory, and sliding times for Apple’s Mac mini already stretched by weeks, this is likely a way for the supply chain teams at the Cupertino-based tech giant to manage the model.
On the earnings call, Cook didn’t provide many details or tease this upcoming change, but said, “We think we’re looking forward to the fact that Mac mini and Mac Studio may take several months to balance supply demand.”
Even with the new entry-level model, the Mac mini still shows an estimate of several weeks of delivery. If I were to order it now, the expected delivery is between June 9, 2026 and June 16, 2026 – actually after WWDC 2026 starts.
We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on the changes to the Mac mini and will get back to you when we hear back. And in the meantime, let us know what you think about this change to the Mac mini starting point.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
