Apple’s Mac Mini M4 has become a popular mini-yet-mighty desktop computer for running local agentic AI 24/7—so much so that it’s been out of stock for months . But with the introduction of the new Mac Mini M6 , the older M4 is no longer as scarce (there was no M5 Mac Mini), and the base model (256-GB hard drive, 16-GB unified memory) is on sale for $649—$150 off MSRP and $250 cheaper than the M6.

It’s a good deal for a computer that is plenty powerful for most people, and some M4 Mac Mini configurations can even handle AI tasks. But—and it’s a big but—shoppers should be aware that the M4’s original base price was $599 when it launched in 2024. However, with Apple raising prices on hardware across the board this year, driven by chip and memory shortages, the M4 ended up costing $799. In comparison, the new M6 starts at $899.

Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a discount or a hard pill to swallow, knowing that it used to be much cheaper.…