The shift occurred after Apple quietly removed the $599 entry-level model—which featured a 256GB SSD and 16GB of RAM—from its online store. As a result, the 512GB storage variant, previously a mid-tier option priced at $799, has become the new “base” model for the compact desktop, News.Az reports, citing Extreme Tech.
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The decision follows an earnings call where CEO Tim Cook highlighted “higher-than-expected demand” for the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, driven largely by their popularity for running local AI and agentic tools. Analysts suggest that by cutting the lower-margin 256GB version, Apple is managing a global shortage of high-performance memory chips. While the newer, budget-friendly MacBook Neo remains available at a $599 starting price, the removal of the cheapest Mac Mini significantly raises the barrier to entry for the Mac desktop ecosystem.
