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.

Nvidia’s valuation temporarily reached $3.53 trillion, narrowly surpassing Apple’s $3.52 trillion, before closing the day at $3.47 trillion, while Apple ended at $3.52 trillion.

The Silicon Valley-based chip giant has become a central company in the AI sector, with Nvidia’s specialised chips proving essential for AI-driven applications across sectors.

The company’s stock has surged, boosted by a recent $6.6 billion investment in OpenAI, the developer of AI models like ChatGPT, which rely heavily on Nvidia’s GPUs for training. 

Nvidia’s October rally has increased its stock by 18%, further bolstered by favourable earnings from other tech firms like Western Digital, which saw a boost from strong data centre demand.

Chipmaker Nvidia Surges Past Amazon, Alphabet to Become Fourth Most Valuable Company

While Apple has maintained a steady climb with a 0.4% rise in its share price, Nvidia’s rise comes from the wider AI adoption. 

AI technology is penetrating various industries and Nvidia’s chips are increasingly in demand, placing the company at the top of AI infrastructure. A promising earnings season, alongside expectations of potential interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, has pushed the S&P 500 index to all-time highs, with Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft comprising nearly 20% of the index’s weight.

Tuesday saw Nvidia’s shares reach record highs, driven by TSMC’s strong quarterly results and a forecast-beating 54% profit increase, largely attributed to the soaring need for AI chips. Investors and analysts are now waiting to see Nvidia’s third-quarter performance, with the company projecting revenue at around $32.5 billion. 

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently pointed out the high demand for the company’s upcoming Blackwell chips, though supply chain challenges have delayed production.

With a 190% rise, Nvidia’s increase in its share value this year, Nvidia has drawn interest from options traders. However, some investors are cautious about whether the AI-driven revenue surge is sustainable. 

Founded in 1993, Nvidia initially made its mark in graphics processing for video games before evolving into a leader in accelerated computing.

With Apple preparing to release its quarterly earnings with a projected 5.55% revenue growth to $94.5 billion, Nvidia’s 82% revenue growth expectation reiterates the market impact of the AI boom.

In contrast, Apple has faced tepid iPhone demand, with sales declining by 0.3% in China, while Huawei posted a 42% surge in sales.