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.

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Apple's M4 Mac mini base model is sold out on Apple's website, with no delivery or in-store pickup options. The shortage is driven by surging demand for the compact desktop as a platform for running local AI models like OpenClaw and alternatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Perplexity. The supply crunch is compounded by an industry-wide memory shortage and a rumored Mac mini refresh. As a result, eBay is flooded with marked-up listings, with base models selling for $700–$979 versus the $599 retail price. The shortage has also spilled over to the Mac Studio, which is now sold out across several configurations.

Marked-up Mac minis flood eBay amid shortages driven by AI