Apple’s ‘new’ polishing cloth is the same except $10 cheaper
Apple has quietly released a new version of its polishing cloth, notable mainly for costing $10 less than before. The product now sells for $9, down from $19, with no apparent changes to its design or materials, and its listing is otherwise identical to the archived version of the previous cloth Apple has removed from its website.
The cloth remains "made with soft, nonabrasive material" and is described as compatible with a broad range of Apple products dating back to the iPhone 5, cleaning "any Apple display, including nano-texture, safely and effectively." Notably, it isn't compatible with the new Mac Studio and Mac Mini models launched alongside it, simply because those devices lack screens, though it can still be used to clean a paired Studio Display.
- Apple's polishing cloth now costs $9, down from $19
- Product appears otherwise unchanged from the previous version
- Not compatible with new screenless Mac Studio/Mini models
New here? Start with this
Apple’s polishing cloth is a small accessory for cleaning screens on products such as iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple says its soft material can be used on a wide range of its displays, including those with nano-texture finishes.
The cloth is sold separately from the devices it is designed to clean. Mac Studio and Mac mini computers do not have built-in screens, though the cloth can be used on a separate display connected to them.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Apple's original pricing was reasonable for a purpose-designed accessory in the premium market segment. Specialty products for sensitive electronics justifiably command higher prices across the industry, and the company transparently marketed it as an optional luxury item. The price reduction likely reflects legitimate business factors including supply chain efficiencies or strategic repositioning, and does not retroactively invalidate pricing that customers willingly accepted.
The case against
An identical product now costing half its original price strongly indicates the $19 reflected brand premium rather than manufacturing value. A soft cloth's production costs are negligible, making such a price an exercise in extracting maximum revenue from loyal customers. The dramatic price cut reveals Apple's previous margins were unjustifiably excessive, demonstrating the company exploited customer loyalty rather than offering genuinely justified premium pricing.