Why Is Apple Polishing Cloth Sold Out Immediately Around The World?

Apple's Rs 1,900 Polishing Cloth recently launched to clean any Apple display, has become the subject of chatter for netizens and sold out nearly immediately. Why Is Apple Polishing Cloth Is Expensive?

Apple more often than not puts outrageous prices on things that don’t really justify the value. The most recent of these was the Rs 1,900 cleaning cloth that the company launched recently. Now, as off as it may sound, the Apple polishing cloth is already quite in demand and people are having to wait quite a bit for the cloth. Apple’s website says that it will take about 10 to 12 weeks to deliver, which means up to three months. With so much interest around the polishing cloth, let's explore whether there is special in the expensive cloth below:

What is Apple Polishing Cloth

Apple's Polishing Cloth made its debut in the Apple Store following the company's October Unleashed event, where it joined Apple's product lineup alongside substantially more expensive devices. The newly redesigned MacBook Pro and the third-generation AirPods may have been the biggest highlights of the show, with the former bringing back the HDMI connector, as well as offering MagSafe charging, a full SD card reader and a choice between the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

Meanwhile, the AirPods 3 include several features previously exclusive to the AirPods Pro like spatial audio with head tracking, water resistance, and longer battery life. But all of these reveals could be considered quite expensive, with the most powerful MacBook Pro costing as much as $6,100 and with tons of competing wireless headphones that offer much of what the AirPods 3 offer for less money.

Apple Polishing Cloth Price

Apple’s polishing cloth is launched at a price point of Rs 1,900 on the Apple India website and that’s the reason people are making fun of the company because a microfiber cleaning clothing in a supermarket might hardly cost you Rs 20. That’s not it, the company is boldly offering the product at an EMI of Rs 224 per month, which seems to be the funniest part among the others.

The company claims that the polishing cloth is compatible with iPhone 6 and above and Macbooks models from 2012. Apple also suggests that the polishing cloth has a nonabrasive material and the company is already facing a shortage with the supply so it might take 3-4 weeks to ship once the order is placed.

It seems that people are taking the full case of Apple on Twitter and we have witnessed some of the hilarious tweets.

"Apple launched a "Polishing Cloth" to clean its devices for INR 1900 (25$). Waiting for them to launch a "Polishing cloth Pro Max" for INR 5000 which is bigger," reads Garv Malik’s tweet.

Why Apple Polishing Cloth Expensive?

Photo: blogtuan

Charging $19 for a piece of cloth about the size of two stacked dollar bills is bold even by Apple’s standards, a company whose legions of loyal customers are conditioned to stomach steep prices. An Apple-branded set of four wheels to “improve mobility” for the Mac Pro, the company’s most expensive desktop computer, is priced at $699, for instance.The cloth, imprinted with the Apple logo in the corner, is made with “soft, nonabrasive material” to clean the screens of iPhones, iPods, and MacBooks “safely and effectively,” according to the product page. The listing adds that the Polishing Cloth — capital P, capital C — is “compatible” with 88 different Apple products. For most U.S. shoppers, shipment is delayed until Jan. 11, at the earliest.

But the Polishing Cloth stands out because it is far more expensive than widely available alternatives. MagicFiber, a popular brand of microfiber cloth that uses ultrafine fibers to clean glass without scratching the surface, offers a pack of six for $9 on Amazon.

“You have to give them credit for the chutzpah to charge $19,” Walter Gonzalez, president and founder of Goja, the parent company of MagicFiber, said of Apple.

Even so, the price has not stopped Apple fans from rushing to be early adopters.

Apple Polishing Cloth Design and Materials

Apple’s polishing cloth is made from “soft, nonabrasive material” but the company doesn’t specify what that material is. iFixit’s experts believe that the material is the same microfiber that lines the iPad Smart Cover. Another reference would be Microsoft’s Alcantara keyboard covers, but slightly softer.

On the front side of the cloth is an embossed Apple logo. It’s subtle but quintessentially Apple. It’s placed in the lower right corner, so it stays out of the way but still reminds you it’s Apple’s premium cloth.

There’s a thin light gray edge that wraps around the perimeter of the cloth, holding two pieces of the nonabrasive material together. The material is just thick enough to feel high-end, but still thin enough to feel like an Apple product.

Products Compatible With The Cloth

Photo: reviewgeek

Apple is ‘Not Surprised’ That Its $19 Polishing Cloth is So Popular

Apple says that its latest accessory will "safely and effectively" clean any Apple display. It is compatible with almost all Apple products, including iPhones, iPods, and MacBooks, according to the company's listing on its online stores. But while the Polishing Cloth is already in short supply - requiring three to four weeks to ship in certain parts of the world - reactions on social media were less than impressed.

Many called Apple out for overpricing the accessory.

Seemingly everyone’s been abuzz lately about Apple’s infamous Polishing Cloth. In an in-depth story from the New York Times about the accessory, an anonymous Apple official said Apple is “not surprised” by the enormous demand.

The Polishing Cloth is currently unavailable at its retail stores. It is, however, available to purchase on the Apple Store Online for $19, but beware: you’re looking at a dreary delivery estimate of 10-12 weeks. That means you won’t be able to use it to clean your Apple gadgets until early 2022. Aww!

The Apple official told the New York Times that the company was “not surprised” by people’s interest in the product, citing that it was “highly effective” and had “a custom light gray color.” Despite the slew of powerful new products that were announced at Apple’s recent event—including new AirPods, two new chips, and a new MacBook with a notch—it’s the Polishing Cloth that caught everyone’s attention, including ours.

Cleaning Cloths That Are Less Expensive (and Probably Better) Than Apple’s

If you don’t want to wait until 2022 to get the cloth, or if you (understandably) don’t want to spend $20 on a cleaning cloth, we found a few quality alternatives.

MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Photo: ubuy

With a 4.7 rating on Amazon, MagicFiber’s Microfiber Cleaning Cloths are a crowd favorite for the best multi-purpose cleaning cloths. They come in a six-pack (though you have options for fewer or a lot more if you want) and are made of premium microfiber material. They’ll obliterate fingerprints, smudges, dust, oil, and more from your smartphone, Nintendo Switch, glasses, camera lens, or tablet and won’t leave any streaks, scratches, lint, or marks in their wake.

Each cloth measures 6 x 7 inches, so there’s plenty of material to hold and clean with (and you don’t need to use any cleaning chemicals with them. They come with individual protective polybags, too, for flat and easy storage in your pocket, bag, desk, or nightstand. And once they get dirty, quick handwashing and air drying put them back in the fighting spirit for more than 500 wash-and-use cycles.

AIDEA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Photo: ubuy

This six-pack of Microfiber Cleaning Cloths from AIDEA is a value that’s too good to pass by—you’ll pay just 87 cents per cloth. The large colorful cloths measure 12 x 12 inches and can handle all kinds of cleaning tasks around the house in addition to keeping your gadgets smudge- and dirt-free.

The lint-free multi-functional clothes are made of 87% polyester and 13% polyamide and have a super soft and absorbent texture. Plus, their edgeless design gives you plenty of durable cloth to work with. The clothes come in five bold colors and have a non-abrasive texture that’s perfect for dusting, scrubbing, and other cleaning needs. You can even throw them in the washing machine when they’re dirty. These budget-friendly cleaning clothes are great for families, too.

Best Premium Option: E-Cloth Reusable Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Photo: amazon

This premium microfiber cleaning cloth set from E-Cloth is well worth its higher price (but note it’s still less spendy than Apple’s). Got some super-tough gunk on your smartphone? No worries. First, dampen the Window Cloth with water to remove the sludge. Then let the Glass & Polishing Cloth erase streaks for a pristine and clear finish.

With its waffle-weave design, the Window Cloth is an unstoppable force when it comes to removing smudges, dirt, and even that bit of take-out you spilled on your phone while eating dinner. And the Polishing Cloth’s soft precision microfibers won’t scratch your phone—no need for harsh cleaning chemicals. We recommend this duo for those who need a little extra help keeping their gear clean.

TreVee Kitty Cat Cloth Wipes (Best for Kids)

Photo: ubuy

It’s tough to get kids to keep much of anything clean, but we’re sure TraVee’s adorable and colorful microfiber cleaning cloths will get the job done and put a smile on your kid’s face at the same time! This 10-pack of clothes features a cute cat design and five fun pastel colors that will (hopefully) make your kids more excited about keeping something clean.

The clothes are made of 80% polyester and 20% nylon and are individually wrapped in a pouch that helps keep them clean and stored when you aren’t using them. You can safely use them on your child’s tablet, handheld gaming console, and multi-coated glasses.

Here’s a long list of products the cloth is compatible with, if you were wondering:

iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad mini (6th generation), iPad (9th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad Air (4th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air 2, iPad Air (1st generation), iPad (8th generation), iPad (7th generation), iPad (6th generation), iPad (5th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini (1st generation), MacBook Air (M1, 2020), MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020), MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018 - 2019), MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015 - 2017), MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015), MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021), MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021), MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016 - 2019), MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012 - 2015), MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016 - 2019), MacBook Pro (Retina, 15‑inch, Mid 2012 ‑ 2015), MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015 - 2017), iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021), iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019), iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017), iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015), iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019 - 2020), iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014 - 2015), iMac Pro (2017), Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 5, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch 1st generation, Pod touch (7th generation).

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