Apple has once again put one of its most talked-about accessories in the spotlight, and this time, there is a much smaller price tag attached. The company’s Polishing Cloth, which famously launched in 2021 for $19, is now available for just $9.
When Apple first introduced the cloth, its price immediately became a talking point. Paying $19 for what appeared to be a simple cleaning accessory seemed excessive to many users. Yet, despite the criticism, the product proved surprisingly popular. It reportedly sold out within months of its launch, showing that Apple customers were willing to pay a premium even for something as basic as a screen-cleaning cloth.
Credits: NewsBytes
From $19 to $9: What Changed?
Apple originally designed the Polishing Cloth to clean its delicate displays, particularly Nano-texture glass, without causing scratches or leaving unwanted smudges. The accessory quickly became an unusual success story because of the attention surrounding its price.
The company’s first-generation cloth sold out around three months ahead of schedule after its debut and returned to Apple’s online store in January 2022. Since then, it has remained a regular part of Apple’s accessory lineup.
Now, Apple has effectively changed the equation by cutting the price to $9. That represents a discount of roughly 53% compared with the original $19 price.
For Apple customers, the new price makes the accessory considerably easier to justify. Apple Card users may also be eligible for cash back on the purchase, depending on the applicable terms.
More Than 140 Apple Devices Are Compatible
One of the more surprising details about the Polishing Cloth is just how many devices Apple says it can be used with.
Apple’s compatibility list reportedly covers more than 140 products. The range stretches from newer devices such as the MacBook Neo to considerably older hardware, including the iPhone 5.
The list also includes Apple’s smartwatch lineup, with every Apple Watch model reportedly supported. That makes the cloth a surprisingly universal accessory for people who own several Apple products.
The broad compatibility could be one of the reasons Apple continues to keep the product around. Instead of being marketed exclusively for one expensive display, the cloth can be positioned as a cleaning solution for a large portion of the company’s ecosystem.
Is Apple’s Cloth Actually Worth $9?
At $9, the Polishing Cloth is certainly easier to defend than it was at $19. But that does not necessarily mean it is the best value available.
The product is essentially a micro-suede-style cleaning cloth carrying Apple branding. There does not appear to be a major functional difference between the original version and the current $9 offering.
That raises an obvious question: why pay extra for Apple’s logo when similar materials are widely available?
For example, Eco-Fused sells a five-pack of slightly larger micro-suede cleaning cloths for around $7.79. That means shoppers looking purely for functionality can potentially get multiple cloths for less than the price of Apple’s single accessory.
Credits: MacRumors
The Apple Tax Still Exists
The Polishing Cloth is a perfect example of how Apple’s accessories can become products in their own right. A cleaning cloth is hardly revolutionary technology, yet Apple’s branding and ecosystem have turned it into an accessory that generated considerable attention.
The price cut certainly makes the product more appealing, but consumers still have plenty of cheaper alternatives. For Apple fans who want an official accessory that fits neatly into the ecosystem, $9 may now seem reasonable. For everyone else, a generic micro-suede cloth could accomplish essentially the same job for considerably less.
Ultimately, Apple has managed to make a simple cleaning cloth surprisingly interesting once again. The difference this time is that the $9 price makes the conversation far less about whether a cloth can possibly be worth $19—and more about whether the Apple logo is worth paying a small premium for.
