Mac Mini and Mac Studio: Stock Shortages and Next-Gen Leaks

Apple’s Mac mini and Mac Studio lines are facing severe shipping delays and stock shortages due to a global DRAM shortage, with high-RAM configurations either delayed by months or completely unavailable for purchase as of mid-April 2026.

According to Apple’s U.S. Online store, delivery estimates for many Mac mini and Mac Studio models with upgraded RAM have reached up to 4-5 months. A Mac mini with an M4 Pro chip and 64GB of RAM is estimated to ship in 16-18 weeks, while even the base $599 model with an M4 chip and 16GB of RAM faces a one-month delay. Similarly, a Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip and 256GB of RAM is quoted at 4-5 months for shipment, with in-store pickup not available until September.

Compounding the delays, several high-RAM configurations have been removed entirely from Apple’s online store. As of April 11, 2026, Mac mini models with 32GB and 64GB of RAM, along with Mac Studio models featuring 128GB and 256GB of RAM, are listed as “currently unavailable” with no delivery estimate and no option to order. This follows Apple’s earlier removal of the Mac Studio’s 512GB RAM upgrade option in March 2026, which had previously been priced at $4,000 for the M3 Ultra chip configuration.

The shortages are attributed to a severe global memory chip shortage driven by surging demand from AI server manufacturers requiring large amounts of RAM. Memory chip prices, while showing signs of stabilization, remain well above historical averages, which continues to pressure Apple’s supply chain for high-end memory configurations.

Analysts note that the stock disappearance could also reflect impending product refreshes, with reports suggesting an M5-based Mac mini and Mac Studio update may be scheduled for mid-2026. However, Apple has not issued any public statement confirming whether the unavailability stems from component shortages, inventory clearance, or both.

The situation has drawn attention from consumers and industry observers, particularly as Apple has maintained RAM upgrade prices despite the shortage—though those prices have increased in some tiers, such as the 96GB to 256GB upgrade for the Mac Studio, which rose from $1,600 to $2,000, a 25% increase reflecting broader DRAM cost pressures.

Apple has not explained the stock situation. Two causes are plausible: the global DRAM shortage that has been tightening since the beginning of 2026 and already forced Apple to drop the Mac Studio’s 512GB RAM upgrade in March, or the beginning of inventory clearance ahead of an M5 Mac mini and Mac Studio refresh that Mark Gurman has placed in mid-2026.

The Next Web

Certain models in these lines are now completely out of stock at the Apple Store in the US. These include the M4 Mac mini with 32GB of RAM and the M3 Ultra Studio with 256GB of RAM, so the higher spec, more expensive options seem to have been hit the hardest.

TechRadar

As of April 18, 2026, the combination of extended lead times and outright unavailability across key configurations underscores ongoing challenges in Apple’s ability to meet demand for its professional-grade desktop systems amid persistent semiconductor supply constraints.