Apple launched a cheaper Polishing Cloth

Apple has released a new version of its Polishing Cloth on its US online store, priced at $9, down from the $19 price the accessory had carried since its debut in October 2021. The launch came alongside today's Mac mini and Mac Studio announcements, though the "very important" cloth itself received no dedicated announcement from Apple.

The new cloth carries the product number MLH74AM/A, replacing the previous MW693AM/A model, which no longer appears to be listed on Apple's US store. Apple's product description for the new version reportedly matches the old one closely: a soft, nonabrasive material intended to safely clean any Apple display, including nano-texture glass. The compatibility list also appears unchanged, still covering iPhones from the iPhone 5 onward and other Apple products with displays.

It is not yet clear whether the new Polishing Cloth differs physically from its predecessor, whether in size, material, or construction. Apple has not commented on the change, and outlets that first reported the price drop noted that they could not immediately identify any specification differences.

Notably, the cloth was the only product from today's lineup to get cheaper. The new Mac mini and Mac Studio, along with the rest of Apple's fall refresh, all launched at higher prices than the models they replaced.

The original $19 Polishing Cloth became something of a running joke shortly after its 2021 launch, given the abundance of cheaper microfiber cloths on the market, and it sold out repeatedly in its early months. Whether the new $9 pricing reflects a genuine cost reduction, an effort to phase out the original design, or simply a response to years of ridicule over the price remains unconfirmed. Still, there are many cheaper polishing cloths available online, so the only reason somebody might want to buy Apple's is for the large embossed Apple logo on the cloth.

The new Polishing Cloth is available now on Apple's US online store.