We last reported that the base model Mac mini on sale for $599 US had been listed as "Currently Unavailable" but today Apple removed the option from the Apple Store configurator. As a result the Mac mini now starts at $799 however this is the 16GB memory & 512GB storage option which is still listed as available but with a 5 to 6 week wait.
The supply constraints were acknowledged during Apple's latest earnings call. The current memory constraints are in fact having an effect on Apple's ability to meet demand.
While a few pundits are suggesting the Mac mini's price was raised, the reality is the base model is more expensive than previously but this is not a price rise—today consumers are getting the same amount of computer for the previous price.
In fact we would argue the base configuration, either the previous 16/256GB or the new 16/512GB while a great computer, is not adequate. 512GB of storage future proofs this generation of Mac mini, however as a desktop computer external storage is a very easy add-on. On the other hand 16GB of memory might be the minimum for Apple—except for the MacBook Neo—but it's honestly not enough. Even with a 24GB of memory, running a few applications, including Safari or Chrome with a decent number of open tabs, will quickly consume that memory—macOS Tahoe came often use 8-9GB of memory from boot. Unless you store everything in the cloud (Apple would prefer that, as long as you use iCloud), a 256GB drive will be used quickly, and this includes the several gigs of swap memory and caching even with 24GB of RAM.
For the first time, Apple upgrade prices are not only competitive, they're a bargain which is probably why so many people have rushed to pick up the pocket sized mini. We're still seeing the $200 for each 8GB upgrade—$200 to go from 16 to 24, $400 to go from 16 to 32GB—as a costly upgrade but compared to the prices PC users are facing, the question keeps coming up, how long can Apple keep up with these low-low prices!
Sadly the 24GB memory upgrade to the new base model has a 10 to 12 week wait time, and the 32GB upgrade is "currently unavailable" altogether.