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Apple has made a change that may seem small at first glance, but in practice means a price increase for customers. The company has removed the cheapest version of the Mac mini priced at $599, leaving the lowest variant as the model priced at $799. Officially, the prices have not changed, but the real cost of entering the Apple ecosystem has just increased.
Quiet price increase instead of an official decision
Instead of raising the price of the basic model, Apple has decided to completely withdraw it. As a result, the cheapest available Mac mini now offers more memory and a larger disk, but it also costs 200 dollars more than before. It’s a clever strategy that allows the company to avoid the negative perception of a "price increase," while simultaneously improving its margins. The reason is quite obvious: rising costs of RAM and NAND make the production of cheaper configurations less profitable. Apple prefers to simplify its offer and focus on more profitable variants.
Popular computer, bigger problem
The Mac mini has been one of the most cost-effective Apple computers for years, particularly for those who already own a monitor and accessories. With the efficient M-series chips, it has also become an interesting option for creators and users working with AI. However, the entry threshold is now rising, which may discourage some new customers. Moreover, memory availability issues could worsen in the coming years, meaning that hardware prices might increase further. The disappearance of the $599 version may therefore be the first signal of larger changes in Apple's offerings.
Apple hasn't officially raised the price of the Mac mini, but in practice, they've done exactly that. The removal of the cheapest model means that entering the world of Mac is becoming more expensive, and this could just be the beginning of bigger changes.
source: digitaltrends
