Apple Is Trying To Phase Out M4 Chip-Based Products, Which Is Why You Can’t Get Your Hands On Mac Mini And Mac Studio Devices Right Now Rohail Saleem • at EDT Add on Google We reported earlier today that the lead times for new Apple Mac mini and Mac Studio devices are now extending well into H2 2026. Interestingly, Apple's planned obsolescence for the M4 chip-based products might have something to do with these stretched shipment timelines, with the ongoing memory-driven upheaval playing little to no role in this calculus. It's not just memory-driven upheaval that is preventing you from getting your hands on new Apple Mac mini and Mac Studio devices If you try to order a new Mac mini or Mac Studio device from Apple today, chances are you likely won't be able to get your hands on those devices until August or September. Related Story Apple Would Rather Lose Money Hoarding All Available DRAM Than Let a Single Competitor Secure Supply Explanation for those who don't understand how Apple does things:The iMac, Mac mini and Mac Studio are the only remaining Macs running M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. Once the brand new M5 series models arrive (rumored between now and June) these current chips will never… pic.twitter.com/YRfMawgdLc— Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev) April 6, 2026 For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Apple is expected to unveil the M5 chip-based Mac mini and Mac Studio devices in the next few months, possibly by summer. In anticipation, Apple has deliberately curtailed the production of M4-based Mac mini and Mac Studio devices, leading to stretched lead times. Why, you might ask. Well, these Apple devices sport unified memory, which is basically a pool of memory that is shared between the CPU and the GPU. As a result, Apple solders DRAM onto the SoC package, making their subsequent separation a cost prohibitive step. From Apple's perspective, if it makes too many M4-based Mac mini and Mac Studio devices, and then fails to sell every single one before the M5-based products make their debut, the precious memory resources within the now-obsolete M4-based Mac mini and Mac Studio would have to be wasted. Essentially, the broader upheaval in the memory sphere has little to no role in the stretched lead times for these products. This makes a lot of sense, especially as Apple is reportedly already buying up DRAM in copious amounts, precluding any product shipment delays due to shortage of memory resources. About the : Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur. Follow on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds. Further Reading Apple About To Become Every Foldable Smartphone Maker’s Worst Nightmare, As iPhone Fold Mass Production Kicks Off Apple Is Dominating Smartphone Rivals To The Point Where It’s Not Bothered To Change The iPhone 18 Appearance ’s M5 Can Lose Up To 40% In FPS Due To Passive Cooling, MacBook Pro’s Active Fan Remains The Superior Choice For Sustained Workloads Apple Is Reportedly Buying Up “All Available” Mobile DRAM At Very High Prices To Starve Out Its Competitors Read all on Apple Is Trying To Phase Out M4 Chip-Based Products, Which Is Why You Can’t Get Your Hands On Mac Mini And Mac Studio Devices Right Now
