tech
April 24, 2026
Marked-up Mac minis flood eBay amid shortages driven by AI
Apple’s sold-out Mac mini is spawning marked-up eBay listings as demand surges for the compact desktop, now favored for running local AI models and tools.
TL;DR
- The M4 Mac mini base model is sold out on Apple's website, with no immediate options for purchase.
- Shortages have extended to other configurations of the base model, and higher storage models are not available until June.
- eBay is now flooded with M4 Mac minis selling at prices significantly higher than Apple's retail cost.
- Mac minis are popular for running on-device AI models due to their power efficiency, quiet operation, and reliability for 24/7 use.
- The shortage is linked to industry-wide memory supply chain issues and increased demand for AI-capable hardware.
- Demand for the Mac Studio has also increased, with several configurations now sold out.
- Unlike Mac minis and Mac Studios, MacBook Pros and MacBook Neos are still shipping within a reasonable timeframe.
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