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

Source: TechCrunch

Overpriced Mac mini M4 models are flooding eBay amid shortages of the sold‑out machines, which have become a favored tool for running on‑device AI models like OpenClaw.

Supply shortage

This week, reports indicated that the $599 M4 Mac mini base model with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage is sold out on Apple’s retail website, with no options for delivery or in‑store pickup. The shortages have since extended to other configurations of the base model, regardless of the amount of memory selected. This is the first time the base model has been sold out, some outlets noted. Models with higher storage (512 GB and up) are only available to ship starting in June.

eBay as a secondary market

With Apple’s direct channel unavailable, eBay has become the go‑to marketplace for these in‑demand computers. Various configurations of the M4 Mac mini are listed at prices higher than Apple’s standard retail price.

Demand for AI‑friendly machines

Apple’s power‑efficient Mac mini has become popular for testing and running at‑home, on‑device AI models. After the OpenClaw craze, users are also running alternatives such as ZeroClaw, tools from Anthropic and OpenAI, Perplexity Computer, and other specialized local models. Compared with many PCs, Mac mini units run quietly and are considered reliable for 24/7 operation, making them attractive for continuous AI workloads.

Pricing on eBay

• New “open box” M4 base models (16 GB RAM / 256 GB SSD) were listed for $715–$795.
• “Excellent” refurbished units reached $979.
• Lightly used, pre‑owned machines sold for around $700, roughly $100 above Apple’s original price.

Image Credit: eBay (screenshot)

A single listing showed a brand‑new M4 Mac mini with the same specs for $925, flagged in bright red text as “Last one.”

Image Credit: eBay (screenshot)

While it’s still possible to find a reasonably priced refurb or win an auction with a lower starting bid, demand is expected to keep prices elevated until Apple’s supply chain refreshes.

Ripple effects on other Apple products

The unavailability of the Mac mini has spurred increased demand for the Mac Studio, which is also currently sold out across several configurations. As noted by Ars Technica, MacBook Pro models with 128 GB RAM and larger SSDs remain available within a few weeks, and the new MacBook Neo ships in two to three weeks, suggesting the core issue is consumer demand for the Mac mini itself.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.