Apple Cuts More Mac Studio and Mac Mini RAM Options as Memory Shortage Worsens

[MacRumors]

Apple has removed more desktop Macs from its online store as the global memory shortage continues. Mac mini models with 32GB and 64GB of RAM are no longer available for purchase, nor is the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 256GB RAM.

The M3 Ultra Mac Studio is now available only in a 96GB RAM configuration, with higher-tier options eliminated. Both M3 Mac Studio and M4 Max Mac Studio models have delivery estimates of 9 to 10 weeks.

As for the Mac mini, the M4 Pro model now maxes out at 48GB of RAM, with customers no longer able to choose the 64GB option. The standard M4 Mac mini can only be purchased with 16GB or 24GB of RAM, because the 32GB option has been removed.

Last week, Apple removed the Mac mini with 256GB of SSD storage, leaving the 512GB model as the minimum option. That effectively raised the price of the Mac mini from $599 to $799. Apple also stopped accepting orders for some Mac Studio and Mac mini machines with higher amounts of RAM in March and April.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that the Mac mini and the Mac Studio are going to be hard to get for months to come. "We think, looking forward, that the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ may take several months to reach supply demand balance," Cook said.

According to Cook, Apple underestimated the demand for the Mac mini and the Mac Studio from customers looking for a machine to run AI and agentic tools locally. He said Apple also expects significantly higher memory costs in the months to come, so Apple is likely conserving supply by eliminating some configuration options. Global supply constraints caused by AI server demand have impacted the pricing of memory chips, leading to high prices and memory shortages.

Update: Article updated to note that the 32GB M4 Mac mini is also no longer available.

Article Link: Apple Cuts More Mac Studio and Mac Mini RAM Options as Memory Shortage Worsens

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that the Mac mini and the Mac Studio are going to be hard to get for months to come. "We think, looking forward, that the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ may take several months to reach supply demand balance," Cook said.

It really is kind of amazing they came out and publicly said this.

This gives a glimpse into just how constrained the situation really is.

 

[tubular]

Can’t wait for the bubble to burst.

 

[gsmornot]

This is not good. I am ready to replace my 27" iMac and had the idea I would go back to a mini but at this point, I may be moving to a laptop even though my MAC normally stays home. I carry my iPad more often when I'm out. I need to decide if I want to get in line or just take another path.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This is not good. I am ready to replace my 27" iMac and had the idea I would go back to a mini but at this point, I may be moving to a laptop even though my MAC normally stays home. I carry my iPad more often when I'm out. I need to decide if I want to get in line or just take another path.

If you are relentless about the Refurb store checking, you can still score Minis (but don't wait -- be doing it now).

 

[bluecoast]

No running local LLMs on relatively cheap Apple hardware for you!

 

[HouseLannister]

Apple: We Also Make Desktops

 

[sublunar]

Probably goes to show where the least pain is for Apple - chop the lowest storage SKUs and highest storage SKUs. One suspects that they're not liking the profit margins on any desktop right now and maybe for the rest of the year.

 

[awshucks]

Was the 32GB M4 just discontinued or was it already discontinued and I wasn't aware?

 

[Howard2k]

That's bizarre, I read here that there was no memory shortage and Apple was just reacting to rumours.

Maybe the memory shortage turns out to be real after all. Who knew?

 

[sublunar]

Was the 32GB M4 just discontinued or was it already discontinued and I wasn't aware?

Definitely gone from UK store.

 

[XboxEvolved]

So inevitably this will constrain the MBP supply down the line also. Currently the lead times are 3 weeks for any MBP with 64GB or more, with anything with 48GB or less being available same day. I'd expect these times to widen, perhaps to a month or more in time. It also makes me wonder if they will skip refreshing the MBP to M6 until much later in the year in 2027, and instead reserve their memory for the "MacBook Ultra".

 

[Rob__Mac]

How long until Apple start manufacturing their own RAM?

 

[Astuces iOS]

This feels illegal ! Why they don't cut the iPad Pro with 16gb of ram?

 

[M3Stang]

Queue the people saying “this must mean the M5 ultra won’t have more than 96gb”

 

[abatabia]

Crazy times we live in. Hang onto what you have folks, it’s gonna be a while.

 

[Cheruman]

Can’t wait for the M5 Macs to cost more than every previous generation combined

 

[CWallace]

With the situation so unclear, I decided to just go back to laptops and replaced my M2 Max Studio with an M5 Pro MacBook Pro.

 

[jole]

Ridiculous that in order to get a Mac with 128GB RAM, you need to buy a laptop due to desktop macs maxing out at 96GB.

 

[vantelimus]

Thank goodness I went against my best instincts and got a 512GB (instead of 256) M3-Ultra when they were available. This is pretty normal for me now:

 

[mozumder]

Well that sucks some of us are developing memory intensive products and could use the ram.

 

[cs455]

This feels illegal ! Why they don't cut the iPad Pro with 16gb of ram?

what feels illegal about this? a company adjusting their products?

 

[jayducharme]

I expect this to delay the introduction of new minis and Studios until sometime next year. Why introduce new desktops with so few configuration options?

 

[Kar98]

I just upgraded my Acer Nitro to 64 GB of RAM to match the 3TB of storage:

 

[JPack]

How long until Apple start manufacturing their own RAM?

Probably never.