Expensive Mac minis have flooded eBay amid a shortage of sold machines, which have become a popular tool for running on-device AI models like OpenClaw.
This week, reports revealed that the $599 M4 Mac mini base model with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage is for sale on Apple’s retail website, with no options for delivery or in-store pickup. The shortage has since been extended to other configurations of the base model, regardless of the amount of memory selected. It’s the first time the base model has gone on sale, other stores have noted. Meanwhile, models with higher storage (512GB and up) are only available for shipping starting in June.
As a result, eBay has become a secondary market for these in-demand computers. On the site, various configurations of the M4 Mac mini are available for sale at higher prices than if you buy directly from Apple, which is no longer an option.
Apple’s efficient Mac minis have become popular devices for testing and working at home, on-device AI models, starting with the OpenClaw craze, but now moving to other OpenClaw methods such as ZeroClaw, other AI tools from Anthropic and OpenAI, Perplexity Computer, or other specialized local models. Unlike other PCs, Mac minis also run quieter and tend to be more reliable for 24/7 use, compared to laptops.
The device shortage also comes alongside industry-wide memory and refresh plans for the Mac mini, according to Bloomberg. However, the renewal of product lines did not lead to shortages in the past.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This perfect storm of supply chain pressure and the growing demand for AI-ready machines has driven up the prices of used electronics.
As of Friday morning, base M4 models with the 16B RAM/256GB SSD configuration were selling for mark-ups ranging from $715-$795 for the new, “open-box” model, and up to $979 for the refurbished “excellent” version. Some “gently used, pre-owned” Mac minis with this configuration were selling for around $700 — more than $100 more than the price of a new base model.
There was also one listing for the new $925 M4 Mac mini with the same 16GB RAM and 256GB storage; the list is highlighted in bold red text: “The last one.”
While you may still be able to score a reasonably priced repair if you look closely (or if you win an eBay auction where the bidding started at a low price), it seems that demand for the device will drive up prices until Apple’s supply chain restarts.
And now that the Mac mini isn’t available, Apple has started to see a growing demand for Mac Studio, too. That computer is also now sold in several configurations.
As Ars Technica pointed out, you can still get a MacBook Pro with 128GB RAM and larger SSDs within a few weeks, and the new and popular MacBook Neo is still shipping within 2-3 weeks. This suggests that the real problem is consumer demand for the Mac mini itself.
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