Apple Also Impacted by Chipflation... Will the New Mac Mini See a Price Hike?
Mac Mini, Once Praised for Value
Entry-Level Storage Model Discontinued
Sales of the entry-level 256GB storage model of Apple's compact desktop, the Mac mini—which had been recognized for its value-for-money performance—have been discontinued. Users can now only purchase the Mac mini starting from the more expensive 512GB model. It is unusual for Apple to discontinue only certain storage options of a product before the release of a new model, and industry analysts attribute this move to the recent sharp increase in memory semiconductor prices.
As of May 4, the Apple Online Store is offering the Mac mini (equipped with the M4 chip) starting from the 512GB storage option, with the 256GB variant removed. Reports indicate that the Mac mini 256GB model disappeared from the Apple Store over the past weekend. The 256GB Mac mini was previously priced at 890,000 won, but with its removal, the most affordable option now available is the 512GB model at 1,190,000 won, which is approximately 300,000 won more expensive.
The discontinuation of the 256GB model is believed to be a result of 'chipflation,' with the AI boom causing surging demand for memory semiconductors. The Mac mini models with M4 chips, released in October 2024, were priced before the current memory chip shortage, so the increased memory costs were not reflected in their prices. As a result, these devices were considered to offer exceptional value, being sold at pre-hike prices despite rising semiconductor costs.
Mac mini sales surged as the device became widely recognized as an ideal platform for running AI agents such as OpenClova. Thanks to the energy-efficient M4 chipset, it received positive reviews for consuming little power even when operating AI agents 24 hours a day. As demand soared, the Mac mini was sold out not only at the Apple Store but also at major e-commerce platforms. On some resale platforms, the 256GB Mac mini has even been resold for over 1,000,000 won.
Apple's decision to discontinue certain existing models has drawn attention to the pricing of upcoming PC releases. This is especially true as prices for key components—including not only memory semiconductors but also CPUs—have risen sharply. Major manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have already raised prices for new models of flagship notebooks like the Galaxy Book and Gram. Some high-performance lineups are now priced at well over 5,000,000 won.
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However, some suggest that Apple may take a strategic approach by freezing or even lowering prices for the upcoming Mac mini models equipped with the M5 chipset to be released within the year. By lowering prices while competitors are raising theirs, Apple could further expand the MacOS ecosystem. In March, Apple unveiled the new MacBook Neo, featuring a chipset designed for iPhone, at an aggressive price of 990,000 won. The newly released 13-inch MacBook Air (with M5 chip) also made the 512GB model the new entry-level option by eliminating the 256GB configuration, yet Apple lowered its price by 100,000 won compared to the previous generation with the same storage capacity.
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