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Apple Stops Accepting Orders for Some Mac Mini and Mac Studio Models

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As noted by 9to5Mac, some Mac mini and Mac Studio configurations are now completely out of stock on Apple's online store in the U.S. as of this writing.

Mac-mini-vs-Studio-Feature-Sans-Text-1.jpg

Mac mini configurations with an upgraded 32GB or 64GB of RAM and Mac Studio configurations with an upgraded 128GB or 256GB of RAM are listed as "currently unavailable" on the storefront, meaning they can no longer be ordered at all.

Other configurations that remain available continue to face lengthy shipping delays, with estimated delivery timeframes ranging from one to three months.

Last month, Apple entirely removed the Mac Studio's 512GB of RAM option.

While the shipping delays have prompted speculation that Apple may be preparing to update the Mac mini and Mac Studio with M5 chips, the delays are likely the result of a severe global memory chip shortage driven by surging demand from companies building AI servers that require large amounts of RAM. After all, the Mac mini and Mac Studio models that are "currently unavailable" are those configured with higher amounts of RAM.

In addition, the current delivery timeframes are extraordinarily long, which makes it harder to determine if this is the usual sign of an upcoming refresh.

Memory chip prices are reportedly starting to stabilize or slightly decrease, but prices still remain well above historical averages, so Mac mini and Mac Studio shipping estimates might not meaningfully improve any time soon.

It is still possible that the Mac mini and Mac Studio will be updated soon, even if it is purely coincidental. However, our best guess is that Apple will announce Mac Studio models with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips at WWDC in June and update the Mac mini with M5 and M5 Pro chips at some point in September or October this year.

Article Link: Apple Stops Accepting Orders for Some Mac Mini and Mac Studio Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/11/some-mac-mini-mac-studio-currently-unavailable/
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SpanishAppleNerd said:
Ironically, I am thinking about buying a basic 24 GB M5 Pro to experiment with local AI models...
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That's what I did. Let me tell you--the local AI models when you use 24 gb of RAM are terrible. They get most answers wrong. It will look like you are running ChatGPT or whatever locally, but its knowledge is trash. Wasn't worth it for me, and I'm told you need at least 100 gb to get an experience approaching the paid, cloud models.
 
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TheOldChevy said:
This is the demonstration that money cannot buy everything. When there is no memory chip available, there is none. At least for a time. There are things that are on limited supply, be careful with these.
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And yet, you can buy a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with any RAM configuration that you want. The M5 variants of the Studio and Mini are very close and that’s the main reason this scenario is playing out. No matter. If one wants or needs a Mini right now, the 24GB/1TB version is very nice and should suffice for most people’s needs.
 
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TheOldChevy said:
This is the demonstration that money cannot buy everything. When there is no memory chip available, there is none. At least for a time. There are things that are on limited supply, be careful with these.
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Maybe the petrol shortage is also playing a role to some degree. Fuel price goes up for all industries effected plus the AI hardware black hole and you have inflation on a category that will lead to delays.
 
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Reactions: Shirasaki, kalsta, Allen_Wentz and 1 other person
I'd be gobsmacked if the M5 Studio memory prices didn't go up unless the OpenAI deal totally falls apart.

I'm probably looking at $18k for a Mac Studio later this year... ouch.

I keep running into limits with my M4 Max now that I'm actually doing hard research work and I pushed it so far the other day the machine just shut off. First time I've ever had that happen with a Mac in 20 years.

I really hate the 3 core layout of the M5 ... I'd rather they bump the price and just do E and "S" (previously "P") cores, I want 24 fast in a machine that expensive.
 
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Reactions: Shirasaki, Amadeus71, Cape Dave and 2 others
No one in MacRumors has any clue of what’s happening with the M5 Mac mini? I know, I know, if you knew you’d publish it. But there used to be a lot of leakers from the supply chain on X (formerly known as twitter) and mastodon… or even Ming Chi Kuo, or Gurmann… Nobody has said anything about the M5 mini yet? It is a bit strange…
 
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novagamer said:
I'd be gobsmacked if the M5 Studio memory prices didn't go up unless the OpenAI deal totally falls apart.

I'm probably looking at $18k for a Mac Studio later this year... ouch.

I keep running into limits with my M4 Max now that I'm actually doing hard research work and I pushed it so far the other day the machine just shut off. First time I've ever had that happen with a Mac in 20 years.

I really hate the 3 core layout of the M5 ... I'd rather they bump the price and just do E and "S" (previously "P") cores, I want 24 fast in a machine that expensive.
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I recently had an M1 Ultra, which been serving me so nice since release (long time and old now), chug, freeze (before suddenly resuming) or even crash with a quick flash purple screen. First time ever in all these years.

I had neglected cleaning the dust from the bottom for a few months now… it was just that. Back to top shape.
 
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Populus said:
No one in MacRumors has any clue of what’s happening with the M5 Mac mini? I know, I know, if you knew you’d publish it. But there used to be a lot of leakers from the supply chain on X (formerly known as twitter) and mastodon… or even Ming Chi Kuo, or Gurmann… Nobody has said anything about the M5 mini yet? It is a bit strange…
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It will either come with the M5 series of chips alongside the Mac Studio, or it will skip them entirely to M6 in the late fall. There were rumors from Gurman that the M6 is going to be ready sooner than expected.

 
madmin said:
I wish this brainless bubble would hurry up and burst
Nobody is too big to FAIL
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We see variations on this "I wish this brainless bubble would hurry up and burst. Nobody is too big to FAIL" kind of comment with some frequency. I would love to have someone explain the thinking to me.

Because it seems to me that AI is a solid evolutionary tech concept still in its early years. No doubt some of the paths that AI growth may take will prove unsuccessful, "fail," but that is just the way growth works. IMO AI is not going to fail even if some current growth directions prove to have been bad choices financially for the folks wealthy enough to be investing in option A versus option B versus option C...
 
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vgmrm said:
Since unified memory is integrated into the same chip as the processor, I don’t understand why the availability and price of non-unified memory chips should affect the price and availability of Apple’s ARM chips.
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Notice the RAM is basically affixed to the processor? Apple is subject to the same scarcity as everyone else.
 

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