Apple Quietly Refreshes Its Iconic Polishing Cloth with a Surprise Price Cut

While the spotlight of today’s Apple event was firmly fixed on the powerhouse performance of the new Mac mini and the updated Mac Studio, the company made a surprisingly consumer-friendly move elsewhere in its store. Apple has officially launched an updated version of its famous Polishing Cloth—and, in a rare turn of events, it comes with a significantly lower price tag.

The new accessory is available starting today for just $9, a notable reduction from the original $19 retail price that sparked headlines when it was first introduced back in 2021.

A Familiar Tool at a New Price

Despite the update, Apple has kept the technical specifications of the product identical to its predecessor. The company maintains that the cloth is “made with soft, nonabrasive material” and is designed to clean any Apple display, including sensitive nano-texture glass, “safely and effectively.”

When the original Polishing Cloth was first announced in October 2021, it quickly became an internet sensation. The product famously sold out almost immediately upon its release, eventually becoming something of a “meme” within the tech community due to its premium pricing for what appeared to be a simple cleaning tool. However, users who managed to get their hands on one often noted that, performance-wise, it remains one of the best accessories for maintaining high-end monitors and device screens.

Availability and Strategy

Industry observers are already keeping a close eye on stock levels. Given the history of the product, there is speculation that this new Polishing Cloth could sell out rapidly as loyalists look to add the “version 2” to their collection.

Interestingly, for those who are perhaps more interested in the “vintage” appeal of the original, the 2021 version is still currently listed on third-party retailers like Amazon for its original $19 price point.

Whether the update implies a minor manufacturing change or is simply a strategic recalibration of their accessory pricing remains a mystery, as Apple has provided no further details regarding the hardware changes. Regardless, for Mac users looking to keep their hardware pristine without the “Apple tax” of years past, the new $9 price point makes this a much easier, more practical purchase for the average consumer.

You can head over to Apple’s official website to order yours now, though you may want to act quickly before it repeats its 2021 sell-out streak.