Want to buy a high-end Apple Mac Studio or Mac Mini? Well, you can’t. Sorry

If you’ve been eyeing a beefed-up Mac mini or Mac Studio over one of the best laptops, we have some bad news.

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Some higher-spec configurations of both machines are now listed as “currently unavailable” on Apple’s online store. Spotted by 9to5Mac (via MacRumors), that includes models with larger memory upgrades – 32GB and 64GB options for the Mac Mini, and 128GB or 256GB for the Mac Studio – meaning they can’t currently be ordered at all.

Just days ago, these same high-end configurations were technically still available, but came with eye-watering delays of up to five months. In some cases, fully specced machines – like a Mac mini with 64GB of memory or a Mac Studio with 256GB – were showing estimated shipping windows stretching into late summer.

Even now, if you opt for a lower-spec version, you’re still likely in for a wait. Remaining configurations are showing estimated delivery windows of between one and three months, which is unusually long for Apple hardware.

It’s not the first sign of changes, either. Apple recently removed the 512GB RAM option from the Mac Studio completely.

So what’s causing the holdup and cancellations? While delays like this can sometimes hint at an upcoming refresh, the more likely explanation right now is a global memory chip shortage. Companies building AI servers require huge amounts of RAM, which is putting sustained pressure on supply chains and squeezing availability for consumer hardware – as any devoted PC gamer looking to upgrade their rig can sadly attest to.

While prices are starting to stabilise slightly, they’re still sitting well above historical norms – meaning these kinds of delays and shortages may not ease any time soon.

There’s some potential good news, at least – there’s ongoing speculation that Apple could introduce updated versions with next-gen Apple silicon later this year, with some reports suggesting a possible Mac Studio update around June, and a Mac Mini refresh in September or October.

For now, though, if you want one of Apple’s most powerful compact desktops, you’ll either need to compromise on specs – or settle in for a long wait.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.