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.

This projection, contained in Omdia’s latest outlook, and based on Q1 memory price assumptions, which indicate that pricing pressure and constrained supply will begin to ease in the second half of the year.

The global smartphone market will face significant challenges in 2026 as tightening memory supply and elevated pricing place increasing cost pressures for vendors.

Memory now accounts for a significantly larger share of the smartphone bill of materials (BOM), eroding vendor profitability, particularly in entry-level devices.

Since 4Q25, smartphone manufacturers have already begun raising retail prices in order to maintain profit margins.

However, sustained price increases are likely to weaken demand, particularly in price-sensitive emerging markets.

Further memory pressure and geopolitical volatility raise the risk of over 15% smartphone shipment decline in 2026

Downside risks to the forecast remain significant. If memory prices continue rising into the second half of 2026 due to tight supply and increasing AI server demand locking in production capacity, smartphone vendors will face further cost escalation across both entry-level and premium devices.

At the same time, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could amplify macroeconomic volatility including higher energy prices, freight costs, and foreign-exchange instability, further weakening consumer upgrades in price-sensitive markets.

Under this downside scenario, global smartphone shipments are expected to decline by more than 15% in 2026, potentially exceeding the 12% contraction recorded in 2022.

“Rising memory costs and macro headwinds are expected to impact smartphone demand unevenly across price segments,” said Zaker Li, Principal Analyst at Omdia. “Devices priced below $100 are forecast to decline by nearly 31% year-on-year in 2026, reflecting the severe margin pressure vendors face in ultra-low-cost segments, which are highly sensitive to even modest shifts in the macroeconomic environment. Smartphones in the $100–$399 range, which represent the core volume bands of the global market, are also expected to contract as rising memory prices push retail prices upward in price-sensitive markets.

These segments are largely served by entry-focused vendors that rely heavily on LPDDR4X memory, operate with thin margins, and often have lower priority in the memory supply chain, leaving them more exposed to cost inflation and potential supply shortages. As a result, vendors concentrated in these price tiers are expected to face production constraints and shipment reductions, with many projected to experience double-digit declines in 2026.”

“In contrast, the premium segment is expected to remain relatively resilient despite rising component costs. Devices priced above $800 are forecast to grow by around 4% in 2026, supported by stronger brand positioning and greater pricing flexibility.

Apple maintains a dominant presence in the high-end market and benefits from strong supply chain relationships and higher margins that help absorb component cost inflation. Samsung also benefits from vertical integration and internal semiconductor capabilities, which provide greater security of supply and priority access to key components. While Samsung still utilizes LPDDR4X in some models and faces similar cost pressures, its supply chain advantages reduce the risk of significant shortages.”

“The evolving cost environment is reshaping dynamics across the global smartphone supply chain,” added  Li. “As entry-level smartphone demand weakens, suppliers of mid- and low-end components – including chipsets, camera modules, and other key parts – are likely to face declining orders and intensified pricing pressure. Vendors are already responding by simplifying product configurations and tightening BOM costs. At the same time, volatility in memory pricing is pushing brands toward shorter-term production planning and smaller order volumes, increasing operational pressure across the supply chain. Smaller ODMs and specialized component suppliers will also face growing consolidation risks as margins compress and demand becomes more concentrated among leading brands.

In this environment, vendors will need to prioritize higher-value product innovation and disciplined production planning, while channel partners strengthen inventory management and demand forecasting to navigate slower replacement cycles and shifting consumer demand.”