Apple hikes Mac mini price

Apple is raising the price of the Mac mini and struggling to keep them in stock, all thanks to a surge in demand for AI-powered Macs. Tim Cook made it clear: supply is tight because customers are snapping up Mac minis and Mac Studios to run on-device AI tools, not just because of chip shortages. With the entry-level Mac mini now starting at $799 and delays stretching for weeks, Apple is betting buyers will pay up—or wait it out—while new U.S. production in Houston aims to ease the crunch. The big question: how long can Apple’s pricing power last before buyers jump ship for rival PCs?

But there’s a wrinkle. Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO in September, handing the reins to John Ternus, the architect behind Apple’s latest hardware pushes. Ternus inherits a Mac lineup with swelling demand, but also the operational headache of matching supply and marketing promises. Meanwhile, iPhone shipments are booming—especially in China—yet even Apple can’t outrun chip shortages. Carriers are keeping momentum alive with aggressive promos, but the risk is clear: if Apple can’t deliver the AI features people expect, those long-term contracts and subsidy-fueled sales could backfire.

And just as Apple leans into AI, a $250 million settlement over overstated iPhone AI features looms large, signaling tighter legal scrutiny and more cautious marketing ahead. Based on reporting from Reuters, TechCrunch, bgr.com, and 9to5Mac.

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