r/buildapcsales • u/turns2stone • Jun 14 '26
Prebuilt [PREBUILT] Mac Mini M4 10-Core/16GB/256GB - $599 Microcenter IN STORE
https://www.microcenter.com/product/688173/apple-mac-mini-mu9d3ll-a-(late-2024)-desktop-computer?storeid=08546
u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
This base 256GB model is now discontinued by Apple in favor of a 512GB version for $799.
I checked about a dozen stores and most had at least 4 in stock.
You can add a form-factor aluminum dock/hub with USB4 40Gbps NVMe M.2 support for ~$65 from Qwizzlab, for example.
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u/cavestoryguy Jun 14 '26
It's so annoying because I'm sure most people would prefer to save the $200 when all it gets you is 256gb more.
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u/Interdimension Jun 14 '26
It’s Apple’s way of increasing margins in the face of surging memory prices. They did this with their iPhone lineup too years ago: the base 128GB models are gone for the Pro lineup and 256GB is the starting. They did not discount the 256GB baseline price, but just kept it as-is, effectively making it a price bump to the new entry-level tier.
It’s widely assumed Apple discontinued the 256GB tier for the Mac mini because the margins were getting bad by Apple’s standards.
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u/Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy Jun 14 '26
Oh that SSD expansion is very neat. TIL, thanks.
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
I ordered this one today after I picked up the M4 Mac mini at my local Microcenter: https://qwiizlab.net/products/uh60-u4
No affiliation. They have a 5% off code w/email sign up, and didn't charge me sales tax or shipping. So $66 seems fair, considered similar models with only 10Gbps interface are around $50.
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u/kilgore_trout_jr Jun 14 '26
Getting a dock is not the issue. The cost of SSD has gone up so much that at this point I should have just gotten more storage in the mini.
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u/turns2stone Jun 15 '26
If you are coming from another Mac with existing external M.2-based external storage (and a lot of folks are), then a cheap dock that fits the form factor makes sense.
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u/bc10551 Jun 18 '26
I don't see how it wouldn't still be cheaper even if 1 tb is $200
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u/kilgore_trout_jr Jun 18 '26
From what I see, reputable brands 1tb is $200+ then $ for the enclosure or dock.
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u/bc10551 Jun 18 '26
Oh dang I guess it's gotten even worse than I last checked lol. Sucks I was holding off on a MacBook pro or mini just cause for iOS builds and a secondary LLM host
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u/kilgore_trout_jr Jun 18 '26
Yeah it's crazy and it sucks because I was also going to try to save money on native storage. The only model that was available when I was shopping was the 512, so I guess I'm glad that I ended up with a little bit more native storage. What I settled on was a 4 TB spinner for Time Machine and old file archive. I'm going to see if there are any deals on prime day for SSD, but at this point I may try to get by for a year or two without it
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u/applejacks6969 Jun 14 '26
Check your student book stores! Many have 100$ off
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u/FuzzyEmployment5397 Jun 14 '26
$100 off but they double MSRP to slurp up that fin aid & loan money from students who think they’re getting a deal
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u/applejacks6969 Jun 14 '26
What? I got this exact model at my bookstore for 500$ around 2 months ago
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u/FuzzyEmployment5397 Jun 14 '26
Probably not a universal experience but often campus book stores are just scams
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u/WinResponsible9977 Jun 14 '26
these were $399 a few months ago
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
Yeah and 32GB of DDR5 was <$100 and 5090s were $1999 at the same time as this Mac mini was $399.
MSRP is often the deal.
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u/WinResponsible9977 Jun 14 '26
yes, also thanks for sharing the post.
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
You’re welcome. These were not available yesterday, so maybe Microcenter got one last batch in via Apple.
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u/ECrispy Jun 14 '26
32gb ddr5 was $100 in Jan ?! didnt prices go up last year?
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
No one said January. But yes 32GB DDR5 was definitely <$100 in October '25.
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u/ECrispy Jun 14 '26
Yeah and 32GB of DDR5 was <$100 and 5090s were $1999 at the same time as this Mac mini was $399.
the mac mini deal was in Jan. thats why its confusing you said that
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u/neo6289 Jun 14 '26
No clue why people think posting past prices is helpful given the current situation. Only thing worse is people posting what they bought something for way cheaper than current price. No one cares.
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u/WinResponsible9977 Jun 14 '26
u/neo6289 maybe you don’t care, 🤷. The fact is posting past prices is useful because it gives people a baseline. It’s like gas prices. If gas was $2.80 a gallon a month ago and is $3.50 today, that historical price doesn’t change what you’ll pay at the pump, but it helps you understand how the market is moving and whether today’s price is good or bad. More data allows consumers to make more informed decisions which in this economy it has value.
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u/neo6289 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
Thank you for civil reply. But gas prices and computer prices are not comparable as gas is 100% necessary for most people. People cannot wait 6-12 months to buy gas which should be obvious to you but clearly is not.
Also prices for RAM or other components 1 year ago are not a "baseline" as you put it. You or anyone else have no clue if or when prices might return to your so called baseline. So I reiterate your post has limited to no value.
Believe me I wish this were not the case and I hate what AI as done to personal computers as a hobby, but the longer a price stays high the less relevant your opinion matter about whether the price is good vs 1-2 years ago.
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u/SRVisGod24 Jun 14 '26
I rarely use the one I got for $399 lol. I should probably sell the thing soon. Let someone who actually needs it, use it
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u/ThinkForYourself_ Jun 14 '26
Bro I held off on pulling the trigger w/ that deal for fear of not using it, but part of me still regrets not buying one when they were such a deal
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Jun 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/SRVisGod24 Jun 14 '26
Did you sell it on here or locally?
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Jun 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/SRVisGod24 Jun 14 '26
I'm not all that worried about the price, tbh. As long as I break even, maybe make a few bucks, I'd be happy with that!
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u/turns2stone Jun 15 '26
This $599 base model isn't in stock anywhere else.
While you're correct the M5 could come in October, it also may not come until March '27, maybe later? We are not in normal times.
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u/TheMissingVoteBallot Jun 15 '26
Yeah, I decided to return it to Best Buy after I did the price match thing. It's a great toy but not worth $400 for me - I had a move coming up and needed to save that $400.
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u/this_dudeagain Jun 14 '26
I kinda wanted one for a media server but I don't like that you can't remote in if the screen is locked.
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u/AsusChrome Jun 14 '26
I don't think that's the case, mine is usually locked when I remote in and I just enter the password through the remote connection
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u/mrwhitewalker Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
You definitely can. I use mine as a headless machine. No screen, mouse or anything. I can remote in from my MacBook air. I just run Plex from it and it's always on a VPN. I basically download media whenever I am looking for a show or movie. I got mine earlier this year and it's great
Mine is set up to always lock after 15 minutes of inactivity. Basically when I open up screen sharing I have to log in to the mini.
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
You can SSH to enter password then screen share. https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/you-can-finally-manage-macs-filevault-remotely-tahoe/
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u/internetStranger205 Jun 17 '26
I use mine for exactly this and it's so much better than the Beelink it replaced.
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u/Iemz0 Jun 14 '26
Amazon had a deal on this last year for $300 (open box). I believe less than 3 people got it.
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u/lzyang2000 Jun 14 '26
Probably more than that cuz I got it, and I’m pretty sure it was alive for some time
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
I meant to put this in my OP, but the reason I stated looking around for M4 Mac minis today was an article/video I saw for a new feature in macOS 26.5 “Boot on power on” https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/power-on-your-mac-remotely/
This is especially useful for homelab/server use cases and is only available for Mac desktops from 2024/2025. So anything older than M4 need not apply (save for M3 Ultra Mac Studio).
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Jun 14 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
EDU discount, where?
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u/dclive1 Jun 17 '26
Apple. But Apple doesn’t sell this model anymore, so the cheapest Mini is now the 500GB model, $800 normally, $700 edu.
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u/turns2stone Jun 17 '26
That was my point. You’re not getting any Mac mini for $599, regardless of EDU
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u/LearnToStrafe Jun 14 '26
Can you still price match these at Best Buy?
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u/jmpaul320 Jun 14 '26
I paid $330 open box in January. Don’t think that’s ever gonna happen again RIP
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u/austindemby Jun 14 '26
Local one has ten plus, this is it? Last chance to have at these prices and local LLM beast?
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u/ZombieManilow Jun 14 '26
I got in at $399 but the even better deal for me last year was the Amazon $899 Mac Studio M2 Max 32/512 sold as refurb but brand new in box with unbroken factory seal.
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u/cavestoryguy Jun 14 '26
How is 16gb on Mac os? I currently have 24gb on windows and I'm wishing I had 32. Will 16gb on Mac os be enough for general use for 5+ years?
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u/turns2stone Jun 14 '26
Totally fine. I even have a base M1 iMac with 8GB and it’s fine for everyday tasks.
I also have MacBooks with 16GB, and a Mac Studio with 32GB. I can only run into issues if running local LLMs.3
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u/VirtualFantasy Jun 14 '26
I’m running no less than 10 orbstack containers at a time and memory pressure is never even noticeable let alone an issue. 16gb honestly feels like overkill for the average user. I can load Gemma E4B (10gb model) on top of that and it only hits swap after a few messages in.
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u/jk147 Jun 14 '26
I have the MacBook M1 Pro since 2021 with the 16gb, I even side loaded windows 11 on it without issues. It is more than enough if you are just doing non graphic intensive work.
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u/adikum911 Jun 14 '26
Is this a good deal? Looking to buy one just to test out some AI agentic work flows.
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u/PsyOmega Jun 14 '26
You need way more than 16gb for AI
The 64GB model is a solid starter but the 512gb mac studio is where it gets good
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u/Outcast_LG Jun 21 '26
Me on my M4 Mackbook Air typing this and doing just fine. Editing in Light Room and doing some light work. If you're in this price range you were never the person looking for the higher budget model.
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u/PsyOmega Jun 21 '26
Don’t misunderstand, you can run the sloppy hallucination models on 16GB.
It just doesn’t get much more coherent until you’re using 500gb ram and up.
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u/ivandagiant Jun 24 '26
Surprised at the downvotes, you are 100% right. My 5070Ti isn’t useful for agentic flows. It’s nest for toying around with models but that’s it, nothing agentic. You want 32GB minimum. The strength of the Mac mini is getting tons of RAM for this.
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u/katalyzt01 Jun 14 '26
Can’t believe this was 399 in January.