Mac mini refresh is imminent as AI buyers clean out stock
Apple is readying a Mac mini refresh, and the new machines could arrive within days — possibly ahead of its September iPhone event. It would be the Mac mini's first generational update in nearly two years. Apple has been testing versions with M5 and M6-series chips, though the final configuration hasn't been locked down.
The update lands during a rare Mac mini shortage. This year, its low price, low power draw, and quiet operation have made it a go-to for running large language models and AI agents locally. By April, several M4 configurations had sold out on Apple's own site, and resale platforms were marking them up.
Meanwhile, AI data centers are gobbling up memory and storage chips. In May, Apple dropped the $599 256GB entry model, pushing the Mac mini's starting price to $799. Tim Cook has previously said Mac mini supply constraints will persist for a while.