Apple has removed several high-end Mac configurations due to a global memory shortage, leaving buyers with fewer options and longer wait times.
On its online store, the Apple Mac mini no longer comes in 32GB or 64GB RAM variants. The higher option has gone, and the M4 Pro model now tops out at 48GB. If you go for the standard M4 version, you can only choose 16GB or 24GB.
The same pattern shows on the Apple Mac Studio, with the M3 Ultra model losing its top memory tiers. It now ships only with 96GB RAM, after Apple removed the 256GB option and other higher configurations.
On the delivery aspect, both machines now show shipping estimates of about nine to ten weeks, depending on the setup.
Another change affects pricing. Apple has dropped the 256GB storage option for the Mac mini. That means the entry model now starts at 512GB, pushing the base price from $599 to $799.
It’s worthy of note that Apple had already stopped taking orders for some higher-RAM Mac Studio and Mac mini models earlier in March and April. What we are seeing now is a difference in what remains available.
Speaking recently, Tim Cook said supply will stay tight for a while. “We think, looking forward, that the Mac mini and Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply-demand balance,” he said.
He also pointed to stronger demand than expected. According to him, more users are buying these machines to run artificial intelligence tools locally. That demand, combined with high memory costs, is forcing Apple to scale back certain configurations.
The pressure is coming from the global market. Demand for AI servers has driven up the cost of memory chips, especially DRAM and NAND. As a result, manufacturers are adjusting what they can offer.
Apple Mac is not alone in the challenge of memory shortage. Other PC makers, including Dell Technologies, HP Inc. and Lenovo, have also reported delays and fewer options for systems with large amounts of RAM.
As it stands, if you need higher memory on an Apple machine, options are limited. The company’s newer laptops, including models with its latest chips, still offer more flexibility. But on the desktop side, choices have narrowed, and it may stay that way for months.
