It makes sense. They charge $.50 for the cloth, $.01 for the plastic bag it comes in and $18.49 to print the Apple logo on that bag. A bit more disturbing is even on the Apple Store webpage, it does not show the size of this rag... err... super-high tech polishing cloth.
Don't forget, the name Apple is written on the plastic bag... A box of Kimwipes doesn't even cost that and you have enough for 10 years... https://www.kcprofessional.com/en-u...ch-science-kimwipes-delicate-task-wipes/34155
These above are cheaper than kimwipes on Amazon. I bought a microfibre polishing cloth for lenses, even cheaper.
In my neck of the woods, Apple's cleaning product is known as a "rip-off." Like only its self-branded stuff is capable and worthy to clean an Apple device.
I hear the battery life of the polishing cloth is very limited, and like windows 11, it does not offer backwards compatibility with earlier Apple products. from it's video, looks about 8 in. square. Works best with an Apple approved cleaning fluid.
Sold out, does that mean 10 million or 100 million or 1 billion cloths? I'm guessing 100 million sold.
Apple says it’s ‘not surprised’ by strong demand for its $19 Polishing Cloth, now backordered to 2022 October 29, 2021 https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/29/apple-polishing-cloth-delays-not-surprised/
iFixit ‘tears down’ Apple Polishing Cloth to reveal why Apple charges a premium for it October 28, 2021 https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/28/apple-polishing-cloth-teardown-ifixit/
Well, I have read the article of mood, the iFixit one, and I stand humbly corrected. To wit: if you tear the cloth apart like two-ply toilet paper, you will now have two fake leather-like cloths instead of one, and get this: each is in a "special" shade of lite gray. omG--what a fabulous bargain. I'll take 5. NOT.