Apple’s new $9 Polishing Cloth is now beginning to arrive to customers, giving buyers their first look at what has actually changed compared with the original version.
When Apple quietly released the updated Polishing Cloth earlier this week, the biggest obvious difference was the price. In the United States, the cloth now costs $9, down from the $19 price of the original version. Apple’s product description remains largely the same, with the company saying the cloth is made from soft, non-abrasive material and can be used to clean any Apple display, including nano-texture glass.
Now that orders are being delivered, early comparisons suggest the new cloth is not noticeably smaller than the original, but it does feel different. According to a comparison shared on X, the updated version is much less stiff, with a softer feel that is closer to the polishing cloth Apple includes with products such as nano-texture displays and Apple Vision Pro.
That answers one of the biggest questions following Apple’s quiet refresh. When the new model appeared online at less than half the original price, it was unclear whether Apple had reduced the size, changed the material, or simply lowered the price.
The Polishing Cloth first became an unexpected viral hit when Apple launched it in 2021. The accessory was widely mocked online because of its $19 price, but demand quickly outstripped supply, with delivery estimates eventually slipping by several weeks as the cloth sold out.
Despite becoming something of an internet joke, the cloth remained one of Apple’s more unusual official accessories, especially because it is recommended for safely cleaning nano-texture glass on products such as Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, and select iPad and Mac models.
Apple has not formally explained why the new Polishing Cloth is cheaper, or whether the material has been changed beyond the softer feel reported by early buyers. However, for anyone who skipped the original because of its $19 price, the new version appears to offer much the same size and purpose at a far lower cost.
The new Apple Polishing Cloth is available now from Apple’s online store.