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I use Refurb Tracker for refurbished email notifications and haven't been seeing Mac Mini on the store that much recently but I don't know what the refresh rate on these notifications are. Could be that they're only scraping the site once per day and it looks like the stock goes pretty fast once its up.
I saw at least 8 mac mini's go through yesterday. I agree those trackers probably can't keep up. I saw one pop up and tried to buy it. Already sold out.
 
I really need a computer.
Then buy one. If your computer is for doing (things that actually need to be done) rather than having (the latest and greatest just because it is the latest and greatest) then there is rarely a reason to wait for the Next Big Thing. Chances are, it won't make much of a difference for the things you simply need to get done.
 
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Guess you got to stalk the site daily. Cheapest computer there now is a $1099 iMac and the OP was already hesitating going to $799. Any idea if there is a regular refresh time for inventory or a 3rd party inventory tracker?

I hit the site occasionally, that’s how I got my Mac Studio. I did not observe any pattern or timing. It is always Mon-Fri during business hours pacific time though… and yes there are trackers but I didn’t need to use any.
 
I use Refurb Tracker for refurbished email notifications and haven't been seeing Mac Mini on the store that much recently but I don't know what the refresh rate on these notifications are. Could be that they're only scraping the site once per day and it looks like the stock goes pretty fast once its up.
I get their notification yesterday- 16/512 for $999
 
The base 256GB Mini M4 is on the Uk refurb store right now. You can possibly find one among the few left in retail stores.
 
I order off apple online a 24/512 April 7. Just arrived yesterday. Same config if ordered today has a early August arrival date now.
 
We're facing a storage crisis with RAM and SSDs. On top of that, Apple is turning to Intel again because TSMC is overwhelmed.

Believe me, every new Mac is going to be significantly more expensive.
If possible take 512/24, future proof.

I can recommend the Mini M4 to everyone. It’s a great computer and monitor/keyboard are possible by every other brand.
 
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Despite the RAM / Oil / etc crises Mac mini's are not unobtanium, Apple have sold hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of them. Do you have an equivalent of CeX in your country? Here in the UK you can buy most Apple product from them in like new condition with a 5 year warrantly at least 10% cheaper than retail, example:

Screenshot 2026-05-12 at 21.13.59.png

If you need it now I would buy one now, the M5 isn't going to be noticably different day to day, in fact I would go out on a limb and say any Apple Silicon Mac is still perfectly usable, I'm on my M1 Pro MBP right now and in no hurry to upgrade.
 
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Go for it now. The M4 Mini is a stupendously competent computer and the if-and-when M5 won't be that much better.
 
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I really need a computer. I have money set aside for a Mac Mini (well, I had money set aside for a $599 Mac Mini. Now I had to up the money I had set aside by $200). Anyway, WWDC is coming up. I'm torn between waiting for WWDC to see if a new M5 mini is announced, or just buying a 512GB M4 Mac Mini now. My fear is that I wait until WWDC, no M5 mini is announced, and then I go back to the website to order the 512GB M4 mini and it's gone. Plus, even if an M5 mini is announced, it may not be available to order until September or something similar. I suppose I also could just get the M4 now, and then trade it in when a new M5 is announced. What's your advice? What would you do? Thanks for the friendly input.

P.S. I already have a keyboard, just need to order the mouse and a copy of Office Home with the machine. I also have the Apple Card, so I could pay for the machine with interest free Apple Monthly Installments (but honestly, I'd probably just pay it all upfront, or pay it off a month or two later), and get my 3% cash back too.

Buy your M4 Mac mini now! It will give you many years of solid service.


richmlow
 
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Then buy one. If your computer is for doing (things that actually need to be done) rather than having (the latest and greatest just because it is the latest and greatest) then there is rarely a reason to wait for the Next Big Thing. Chances are, it won't make much of a difference for the things you simply need to get done.
I read this post and heard The Rock’s voice from the infamous Kane finding things and Benoit proving things promo lol 🙂 I admit I’ve binge watched a few WWF videos recently…
 
So, this is what I’m thinking now. I’m going to order the M4 16/512 and if I order online, and pick up in store, the earliest I can pick up is June 12th. June 12th is the last day of WWDC. I have 14 days to return from June 12th. This way, I’ll know if an M5 is going to be available or not when I pick it up. If there is an M5, and it’s not months down the road, I can cancel/return and get the M5. If it’s months down the road or the price is now higher, I can keep the M4.
 
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I really need a computer. I have money set aside for a Mac Mini (well, I had money set aside for a $599 Mac Mini. Now I had to up the money I had set aside by $200). Anyway, WWDC is coming up. I'm torn between waiting for WWDC to see if a new M5 mini is announced, or just buying a 512GB M4 Mac Mini now. My fear is that I wait until WWDC, no M5 mini is announced, and then I go back to the website to order the 512GB M4 mini and it's gone. Plus, even if an M5 mini is announced, it may not be available to order until September or something similar. I suppose I also could just get the M4 now, and then trade it in when a new M5 is announced. What's your advice? What would you do? Thanks for the friendly input.

P.S. I already have a keyboard, just need to order the mouse and a copy of Office Home with the machine. I also have the Apple Card, so I could pay for the machine with interest free Apple Monthly Installments (but honestly, I'd probably just pay it all upfront, or pay it off a month or two later), and get my 3% cash back too.

Never mind, enjoy your new Mac as I see you've ordered it. Should have waited though.
 
If you need it now, buy it now. If you can wait, then wait.

The wait comes with a caveat, given inflation, its highly likely waiting will cost you more.
 
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Never mind, enjoy your new Mac as I see you've ordered it. Should have waited though.

If they announce a new M5 at WWDC, I can instantly return the M4. I’m not getting the M4 until June 12th, the last day of WWDC. However, if Apple announces a new M5, but it won’t be available until September or October, I’m keeping the M4, because I cannot wait that long. Besides, I only paid $699 for the 16/512 M4 because I work for an Institution of Higher Learning, so I qualified for the Education discount. Getting a 512 for only $100 more, rather than $200 more, was a good deal, at least in terms of Apple products, wouldn’t you say?

We're facing a storage crisis with RAM and SSDs. On top of that, Apple is turning to Intel again because TSMC is overwhelmed.

Believe me, every new Mac is going to be significantly more expensive.
If possible take 512/24, future proof.

I can recommend the Mini M4 to everyone. It’s a great computer and monitor/keyboard are possible by every other brand.

I looked at ordering a 24/512, but it wouldn’t have shipped until August :-/
 
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Very few - unless you are doing professional / commercial grade video, audio, photo editing or high-end CAD - need the horsepower of the M5 in the Mini, MacBook Air or iPad. But that won't stop Apple from convincing consumers that this is exactly what you need. They are not in the business of helping you make wise decisions.
And as recent moves by them have shown, short of a Neo Mini coming out, they aren't going to offer a range of products or have any product go down in price.

If you absolutely must have a new computer, sure - but while on a M2 Mini, I still drag out my 2017 MacBook Air weekly for work travel or cafe visits - and it still handles 95% of the apps on my M2.
 
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