Popular Mac minis flood eBay amid AI-driven shortages

The most expensive Mac minis are eBay flood Among the lack of commercial machines, which have become a favorite tool to use in AI tools such as OpenClaw.

This week, reports showed that the $599 M4 Mac mini base model with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage is for sale on Apple’s retail website, with no delivery or in-store pick-up options. The shortage has been there ever since added to other configurations of the base model, regardless of the amount of memory selected. This is the first time that the basic model has been sold, others supplies he realized. Meanwhile, models with higher storage (512GB and up) are available for shipping starting in June.

As a result, eBay has become the second largest marketplace for these sought-after computers. On this site, various configurations of the M4 Mac mini are available for purchase at higher prices than if buying directly from Apple, which is no longer an option.

Apple’s Mac minis have been popular tools for testing and driving at home, on AI tools, starting with the OpenClaw craze but now moving to OpenClaw alternatives such as ZeroClaw, other AI tools from Anthropic and OpenAI, Hacking computers, or something else these special examples. Unlike other PCs, Mac minis also run quieter and are more reliable for 24/7 use, compared to desktop computers.

Lack of equipment also comes with corporate memory loss and plans to refresh the Mac mini, according to Bloomberg. However, the revival of the product lines did not cause the shortage earlier.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This perfect storm of supplier pressure and increased demand for AI-friendly machines has driven up consumer electronics prices.

As of Friday morning, base models of the M4 with the 16GB RAM/256GB SSD configuration were selling for as low as $715-$795 for the new, “open box” model, and up to $979 for the refurbished “premium” model. Other “lightly used, pre-owned” Mac minis with this configuration were selling for about $700 — more than $100 more than the price of a new model.

There was also one listing for the new $925 M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage; the list warned in bright red words: “Final.”

While you may be able to get a replacement for a reasonable price if you look hard enough (or if you win an eBay auction when the sale starts at a low price), it seems that demand for the device will drive up prices until Apple’s supply chain recovers.

And now that the Mac mini is no longer available, Apple is starting to see the need for Mac Studio, too. That computer and now sold out going through several changes.

Like Ars Technica pointed out, you can still get a MacBook Pro with 128GB RAM and larger SSDs within a few weeks, and even the new and popular MacBook Neo is still shipping within two to three weeks. This shows that the real problem is looking for Mac mini buyers only.