The Apple Polishing Cloth is one of Apple's most infamous accessories. With a steep £19 price tag, small size and even a compatibility list, it is a controversial product. But is it actually worth buying, or would you be better off sticking with a cheaper microfibre cloth?
Apple released its polishing cloth as a standalone accessory in October 2021, alongside new Mac hardware following an Apple Event.
It quickly became infamous online because many viewed the polishing cloth as just a piece of fabric that was being sold for almost £20. The price is especially shocking when compared to other microfibre cloths which are sold in multipacks for as low as £2.
In addition to its fame from the price tag, the Apple Polishing Cloth has also become a meme on social media platforms such as X, for its ever-growing compatibility list.
The most recent additions include iPhone 17e & the latest iPad Air models. The list does also have some notable exceptions, such as the iPhone 4, despite the fact that the polishing cloth would work perfectly fine with this device.
Using the Apple Polishing Cloth
The polishing cloth works well with glossy iPad, iPhone and MacBook screens, removing most smudges and fingerprints - but so does any regular microfibre cloth.
After a couple months of regular use, the cloth did get quite dirty and started to add smudges to the screen it was supposed to be cleaning.
This meant it was time to clean the cloth - using Apple's own cleaning instructions.
The cloth was hand-washed with washing-up liquid, rinsed and left to dry for 24 hours.
Despite this process, the cloth was still causing smudges and was beginning to get bobbly.
Maybe this was just user-error, as there have not been many other instances of this happening.
The Nano-texture Variant
After a disappointing experience with the £19 Apple Polishing Cloth, it was a pleasant surprise to find that the Apple Studio Display came with its own polishing cloth.
This cloth is made of a different, thinner material that seems to be less prone to collecting dust and other dirt.
It works well on the nano-texture glass and, as you might expect, works perfectly fine on glossy displays too.
3 months into using the cloth that came with the Studio Display, it still looks, feels and works as if it were new after regular use across multiple Apple devices.
Apple Polishing Cloth vs Standard Microfibre Cloth
The Apple Polishing Cloth works much the same as any screen-cleaning microfibre cloth, removing dust, fingerprints and dirt from your screen.
Harder to clean smudges will also require the help of a screen cleaning solution, no matter what cloth you use.
The Verdict
The Apple Polishing Cloth is fine, and gives you peace of mind that you are using a cloth that has been designed and recommended by Apple.
While £19 is expensive for a polishing cloth, the price will seem more reasonable considering you will pair it with an Apple device that costs hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
And, if you own an Apple product with the nano-texture screen, you can skip the polishing cloth, as you would have already received the premium nano-texture variant with your device.
Ultimately, a regular microfibre cloth will suit most people's needs just fine. Plus, by opting for the cheaper option, it will allow you to clean your screen without worrying about ruining your expensive polishing cloth.
