# Apple has discontinued the $599 Mac Mini with 256GB storage, raising the starting price to $799 with 512GB.

*semiconductor · news · 2026-05-03 · TNW*

## Key points

- Apple discontinued the $599 256GB Mac Mini due to unprecedented global DRAM shortages, not product strategy.
- DRAM prices surged 90% in Q1 2026, as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron pivoted toward AI server memory.
- Consumer electronics prices may increase 10-20% in 2026, with PC market contraction projected at 11.3%.
- High-bandwidth memory for AI now consumes 23% of total DRAM wafer output, up from 19% in 2025.
- The DRAM shortage is expected to persist into 2026, with manufacturers prioritizing AI memory over consumer DRAM.

**Companies:** Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Oracle, Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron
**Countries:** South Korea, Japan, United States

[Read the full story on TNW](https://thenextweb.com/news/apple-mac-mini-price-dram-ai-shortage)

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