Mac mini and Mac Studio: Orders stopped at Apple Apfelpatient

Several configurations of the Mac mini and Mac Studio are no longer available for order in the Apple Online Store. The reason is the worldwide shortage of memory chips – not necessarily a sign that successors will be released soon.

Anyone currently trying to order a Mac mini with 32 or 64 GB of RAM, or a Mac Studio with 128 or 256 GB of RAM, is encountering problems in several markets – including the US and German Apple Online Stores. Certain configurations are marked as unavailable and can no longer be ordered. Other configurations are still available, but with delivery times of one to three months. Apple already removed the 512 GB RAM option for the Mac Studio entirely from its lineup in March. The situation is escalating.

Such supply bottlenecks for Apple products usually trigger speculation about upcoming product updates. In this case, however, there is a more concrete reason: The global shortage of DRAM and NAND memory chips is hitting Apple hardest with models configured with particularly large amounts of RAM. The demand for memory chips is currently being driven primarily by the construction of AI servers, which require large quantities of RAM.

Memory chip crisis as the main cause

It's no coincidence that the RAM-intensive configurations are affected. The Mac mini and Mac Studio use Unified Memory, which is integrated directly into Apple's M-chips. Apple relies on external suppliers for this memory – and competes with companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google, which also require massive amounts of high-performance memory for their AI infrastructure.

According to industry reports, memory chip prices have stabilized slightly, but remain significantly above historical averages. No noticeable improvement is expected before the end of 2027 – meaning that the supply situation for the Mac mini and Mac Studio is unlikely to improve much in the short term.

Are new models coming soon?

The unusually long delivery times are making it more difficult than usual to distinguish between supply chain problems and an upcoming product update. In principle, an update of both models to M5 chips is expected later this year: The Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra could be announced at WWDC in June, and the Mac mini with M5 and M5 Pro likely in the fall.

Whether the current order freezes are related to an upcoming launch or solely caused by the memory chip shortage is currently unclear. Both are possible – and could even coincide if Apple is deliberately not replenishing its inventory because new models are going into production anyway.

Mac mini & Mac Studio: What buyers can do now

Anyone urgently needing a Mac mini or Mac Studio should order the remaining available configurations as soon as possible – delivery times could increase further. Alternatively, authorized resellers and Apple's Refurbished Store sometimes offer models that are sold out in the main store. Those who can wait will likely find an M5 model a better choice in the coming months. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Hadrian)