The Mac mini is (generally) cheaper than a MacBook because it has fewer components than a laptop. With the Mac mini, Apple doesn’t have to worry about the screen, the battery, or even the portability of the product. In other words, it’s the same reason a tower costs less than a real Windows laptop: the customer technically gets “less.” After all, with a MacBook you have the computer, the screen, the trackpad, and the keyboard. With the Mac mini, you get the computer. That’s it.
Despite this, it’s worth noting that the Mac mini is still a computer. In fact, the latest M4 Mac mini became so popular as a local AI server that news of people buying several at once was everywhere. However, amid the current global memory crisis, Apple has not only raised the prices of most of its products, but also removed several options for the Mac mini and Mac Studio from sale. Additionally, getting an Apple device is no longer as simple as the lack of memory means there is less stock, so getting a MacBook may take a few weeks. Apple’s new release schedule appears to have been delayed due to lack of components and manufacturing costs.
The memory crisis changed everything
When Apple launched the Mac mini in late 2024, it redesigned that computer to look like a Mac Studio. It offered M4 and M4 Pro variants, which made it small but also much faster than the previous iteration. At the time, the Mac mini was priced at $599 and $499 for education, the cheapest Mac you could get. Until the release of the MacBook Neo in early 2026, which cost the same $599 as the Mac mini, the cheapest MacBook was the Air, starting at $1,099.
Currently, the Mac mini starts at $799 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is now $100 more than the $699 MacBook Neo with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Now, with the memory crisis, it’s unclear whether the Mac mini will ever be that cheap again, or whether $799 is now its new standard. Still, what might intrigue customers the most is that all Mac configurations take at least a few weeks to ship, but if you’re considering upgrading to a higher-spec Mac mini, like with the M4 Pro and 48GB of RAM, it could take up to three months to get your hands on that machine.
Which Mac should you buy?
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Choosing between a Mac mini and a MacBook can be tricky at times like these. The Mac mini is the go-to machine for someone who already has everything else: a good monitor, a trackpad and a keyboard, and who only needs a new tower to process all their data at work, school or for personal use. Since the Mac mini has a better processor and double the RAM of the current MacBook Neo, users have much more battery life for demanding tasks, especially because they don’t have to worry about battery life, meaning the combination of a plugged-in computer and a good ventilation system allows Apple to push the limits of the Mac mini much harder than it would with a fanless MacBook Neo or MacBook Air.
On the other hand, buying a MacBook is ideal if you’re always on the go or want an all-in-one solution. After all, if you don’t have all the other bells and whistles for the Mac mini, Apple charges $99 for the base Magic Keyboard, $129 for the Magic Trackpad and $79 for the Magic Mouse, and a whopping $1,599 for the Studio Display.
That said, even if the Mac mini may seem cheaper on paper, it includes several other essential accessories to take full advantage of a Mac. Ultimately, it depends on whether you need portability or a machine that you can keep at home or in the office at all times.
