Apple raises Mac Mini price and teases upgraded $599 MacBook Neo 2

Apple increased the base price of its Mac Mini desktop to $799, up from $599, a roughly 33% jump that took effect in early May 2026. The hike follows a 50‑70% surge in memory‑chip prices as AI‑heavy data‑center demand squeezes supplies, a trend warned about by CEO Tim Cook during the January 2026 earnings call. To offset the cost rise, Apple doubled the base model’s storage to 512 GB.

Separately, Apple is preparing a new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo 2, slated to launch at $599. The device will retain a 13‑inch Liquid Retina design but adds an A19 Pro processor, 12 GB of RAM (up from 8 GB), 512 GB of storage, and integrated AI features such as smarter voice commands and improved dictation. The Neo 2 will not include a touchscreen, focusing on performance and affordability for students and professionals.