- More Mac models have now been pulled by Apple
- Mac minis and Mac Studios now available in fewer configurations
- AI and the associated memory shortage is to blame
With AI data center demand sucking up the world’s supply of RAM, consumers are feeling the effects: having already removed some configurations of the Mac Studio and Mac mini from its store last month, Apple has now reduced the available options even further.
As spotted by MacRumors, you can no longer buy Mac mini models with 32GB or 64GB of RAM, while the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 256GB of RAM has also been taken off sale — so right now that particular computer is only available with 96GB of RAM.
Both the M3 Mac Studio and the M4 Max Mac Studio, meanwhile, are showing delivery estimates of 9-10 weeks. Even if the configuration you want can be purchased through the store, you might be waiting a long while for it.
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As for Mac minis, you’re left with a 48GB of RAM option for the M4 Pro model, and 16GB or 24GB for the standard M4 version. The 256GB SSD storage option has been removed in recent weeks, too, raising the starting price.
‘Supply demand balance’
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has gone on record as saying “the Mac mini and Mac Studio may take several months to reach supply demand balance” — and Cook specifically mentioned AI and agentic tools as reasons why these computers are so in demand.
These Macs are being squeezed in two ways: not only are they ideal for running AI models and software, which increases their popularity, but that same demand for AI processing power is also significantly reducing stocks of memory to go inside these computers.
And there’s no sign of the situation getting any better in the short term. The biggest players in the business have been warning that it’s going to take a while before supply can catch up, which isn’t encouraging for availability and pricing going forward.
Reaction online has been understandably negative: “I’ve come to despise AI,” admits one Redditor, while other commenters want to see more done to limit the number of machines that can be purchased at once (most commonly for large, complex AI projects).
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