If you were planning to upgrade your office with one of Apple's desktop powerhouses, you might have to wait a while or perhaps reconsider your options. It appears that the Apple online store has started displaying "currently unavailable" signs for the most powerful Mac mini and Mac Studio models, sparking a wave of questions about the real reason behind this sudden disappearance of some professional-grade devices.
Disappearance of premium categories from the Apple Store
Observers have noticed that certain Mac Mini models, specifically those with 32GB or 64GB of RAM, are no longer available for order on Apple's official US store. This trend hasn't stopped there; the Mac Studio has also disappeared, with Apple listing the 128GB and 256GB versions as "currently unavailable," meaning they can't be ordered at this time.
This development follows a previous move by Apple last month when it completely removed the 512GB storage option from the Mac Studio. As for the models that are still available to order, they continue to suffer from extremely long shipping times, with estimated delivery times in some cases ranging from one to three months, making getting a new device anytime soon more of a dream than a reality.
Memory crisis or winds of change with M5 processors?
Naturally, speculation began that Apple might be preparing to launch new Mac Mini and Mac Studio computers powered by the upcoming M5 chips. However, the reality on the ground points to a more realistic and less optimistic reason: a severe global shortage of memory chips. With the explosive demand for AI servers, which consume enormous amounts of RAM, manufacturers have found themselves in a frantic race to meet the needs of tech giants, directly impacting the availability of these components for personal computers.
What supports this theory is that the missing models are precisely those that rely on very high memory capacities. Although memory chip prices have begun to stabilize somewhat, they are still significantly higher than their historical averages, which explains Apple's current inability to meet the high demand for these professional-grade models.
When will we see the next updates?
Although the memory shortage is the primary culprit, Apple enthusiasts are still hoping to see new hardware soon. It's expected that Apple will use its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June to announce new Mac Studio models equipped with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors. The Mac Mini is also likely to receive an update with M5 and M5 Pro processors sometime in September or October of this year.
Until that time comes, the professional user will remain perplexed; either accepting the currently available options with less memory, or waiting for many months in the hope that the supply crisis will end or that new processors will appear to save the situation.
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