Apple Discontinues Entry-Level Mac Mini, Raises Base Price to $799

<h2>Apple Kills 256GB Mac Mini, Entry Price Jumps $200</h2><p>Apple has quietly removed the 256GB storage configuration of the Mac mini from its configurator worldwide, effectively pushing the starting price of the M4-based desktop up to $799. The entry-level model previously cost $599 with 256GB of storage.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2026/01/mac-mini-blue.jpeg" alt="Apple Discontinues Entry-Level Mac Mini, Raises Base Price to $799" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.macrumors.com</figcaption></figure><p>The change took effect weeks after the 256GB option became unavailable to order, and the listing is now completely gone. Customers looking for a new Mac mini from Apple must now pay at least $799 for the 512GB version.</p><h2>Supply Constraints Confirmed by CEO Tim Cook</h2><p>During Apple's earnings call this week, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that both the Mac mini and Mac Studio are supply-constrained. He warned that achieving supply-demand balance could take <strong>“several months.”</strong></p><p>Cook described the machines as <strong>“amazing platforms for AI and agentic tools,”</strong> citing unexpectedly high demand. <em>“We’re seeing more orders than we can fulfill right now,”</em> he said during the call.</p><h2 id="background">Background: Global Memory Chip Shortage</h2><p>The move comes amid a worldwide memory chip shortage driven by massive AI server buildouts. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that <strong>“RAM costs have spiked nearly 30% in Q1 alone,”</strong> forcing Apple to rethink its product tiers.</p><p>In March, Apple already discontinued the Mac Studio with 512GB of RAM. Cook confirmed the company is expecting <strong>“significantly higher memory costs”</strong> in the current quarter, making the 256GB Mac mini economically unviable.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://images.macrumors.com/t/Nn9fuxpIL2pwS6UfLUvYVmlrILE=/2500x/article-new/2026/01/mac-mini-blue.jpeg" alt="Apple Discontinues Entry-Level Mac Mini, Raises Base Price to $799" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.macrumors.com</figcaption></figure><p>The M4 Pro configurations of the Mac mini already started with 512GB of storage, so those models remain unchanged in price.</p><h2>What This Means for Consumers</h2><p>For budget-conscious buyers, the $200 price hike removes one of the most affordable entry points into Apple’s desktop lineup. However, the 512GB model offers double the storage for the same price as before.</p><p>Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon may still have limited stock of 256GB units, but once they’re gone, the only option will be the $799 model. <strong>Students and home office users</strong> will feel the pinch most.</p><p>This also signals Apple’s intent to position the Mac mini as a midrange AI workstation rather than a budget starter machine. The M4 chip’s neural engine benefits from larger storage for local AI models, but the price jump may push some buyers toward refurbished units or competing PCs.</p><p>We have reached out to Apple for additional comment and will update this story when more details emerge.</p>