Surging demand for Mac mini and Mac Studio for AI workloads leads to shortages

High-memory configurations of Mac mini and Mac Studio have become some of the most hard-to-find products in Apple’s lineup. Delivery times are increasing by the day: while a month ago a Mac Studio could be delivered within two weeks, wait times have now stretched to as long as 54 days, with some configurations already sold out. This was reported by TechRadar, citing data from Apple’s online store and industry sources.

Why These Models Are in Short Supply

The primary driver appears to be a sharp rise in interest in running AI models and AI agents locally, including projects such as OpenClaw. More users and small businesses are choosing to process large language models directly on their own machines rather than relying on cloud services.

In this scenario, RAM capacity becomes critical: the more memory available, the larger the model that can be run comfortably on-device.

The current situation in the United States looks like this:

• Mac mini with M4 chip and 16GB RAM — in stock, shipping within days.
• 24GB or 32GB RAM versions — delays of up to three weeks.
• Mac Studio with M4 Max and 64GB RAM — delivery in 4–5 weeks.
• 128GB configurations — up to six weeks.
• Mac Studio with M3 Ultra and 512GB RAM — also up to six weeks.

Alex Finn, CEO of Creator Buddy, noted that just a month ago delivery times were several times shorter, while now certain configurations are simply unavailable.

Who Is Buying Up the Powerful Macs?

According to TechRadar’s sources, a growing number of companies and enthusiasts are using Mac Studio as a platform for deploying AI models, automating workflows, and running local inference. The compact Mac mini with expanded memory is also seen as a relatively affordable option for AI tasks at home or in small offices.

Not all experts are convinced that the shortages are driven solely by AI hype. Broader memory market conditions may also be contributing — including chip supply constraints, rising component costs, and seasonal factors. Still, even if AI is not the only cause, it is clearly one of the main drivers behind demand for high-spec configurations.

What Happens Next?

If the trend continues, delivery times could grow even longer, forcing Apple either to increase production or reconsider pricing for top-tier models. The company has not issued an official comment, but delays are already clearly visible in its online store.

For those who urgently need a powerful Mac for AI workloads, the realistic options at the moment are to purchase a base configuration that is in stock or to wait several weeks — possibly even months — for the desired model.

In Brief

High-RAM versions (24–512GB) of the Mac mini and Mac Studio are now in short supply, with delivery times stretching to 3–6 weeks and some configurations sold out. The main reason is the boom in local AI and AI agents, as users and companies buy powerful Macs to run models without relying on the cloud. It remains unclear whether AI alone is responsible or whether memory supply issues are also at play, but the trend is evident: demand for Apple’s RAM-heavy machines is rising faster than the company can produce them.