Apple's desktop computer lineup is facing significant supply disruptions, with many Mac mini and Mac and Mac Studio configurations becoming increasingly difficult to purchase, according to arstechnica.com.
While the MacBook lineup remains stable—supported by the affordability of the MacBook Neo and the power of M5 Pro and M5 Max models—the availability of Apple's desktop hardware has steadily declined over recent months.
The outlet reported that the 512GB M3 Ultra Mac Studio was recently removed from Apple's official website. Additionally, shipping timelines for various desktop models have slipped from just a few days to several months.
Many configurations of both the Mac mini and Mac Studio are now appearing as "currently unavailable" on Apple's web store. This phenomenon is noted as being highly unusual, as such status rarely occurs even when Apple is planning an imminent hardware refresh.
Growing delays for M4 configurations
This week, the baseline $512 M4 Mac mini—featuring 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage—earned the "currently unavailable" label for the first time, as noted by MacRumors.
While some orders can still be placed, customers face lengthy waits. M4 Mac mini models with 512GB or more of storage and either 16GB or 24GB of RAM are seeing delivery estimates between five and 12 weeks, depending on the specific configuration.
M4 Pro Mac mini models with 24GB or 48GB of RAM are facing similar delays, with most units showing arrival times within 10 to 12 weeks.
Specific high-end configurations have vanished from the ordering system entirely. All M4 Mac minis with 256GB of storage, all M4 minis with 32GB of RAM, and all M4 Pro Mac minis with 64GB of RAM are currently listed as unavailable.
The shortage extends to the Mac Studio line as well. Mac Studio models equipped with 128GB or 256GB of RAM are currently unavailable for order, while other Studio configurations are subject to the same five-to-12-week wait periods seen in the mini lineup.
These shortages do not appear to be limited to the M4 chip generation. The report noted that most M4 iMac configurations, including those with 32GB of RAM, continue to arrive within a week or two of purchase.
Furthermore, the issue is not strictly tied to ongoing RAM or storage shortages. New MacBook Pros featuring 128GB of RAM and large SSD capacities are still being delivered within two to three weeks of being ordered.
