Apple cloth for €25: is it really surprising?

In 2019, Apple released a high-end screen, the Pro Display XDR. Still in range today, the latter costs5 499 €in classic version and6 499 €in nano-textured matte glass version. If the most expensive version benefits from even better image quality than the basic one, it is also more sensitive to scratches. It is therefore delivered with aspecial cloth, anti-scratch, essential for cleaning the glass without risking damage.

For several days, this cloth has been on sale separately from the screen, for a price which has not failed to provoke a reaction on the web, to the point that Apple has become the target of numerous mockery.

The cloth actually costs no less than25 €. If the latter is certainly of quality, like the majority of products and accessories signed by Apple, it must be admitted that, if you do not know Apple, the amount requested may be surprising.

However, this is not the manufacturer's first attempt at astonishing pricing, particularly on its accessories. Here is a brief overview of what Apple offers for some of them on its official website, with, each time, alternatives that are often much cheaper and which can be found very easily:

• Apple cloth for €25:alternative for less than €5at Spontex. Please note, for the Pro Display XDR screen in nano-textured glass version, it is better to use the Apple cloth
• 4 Apple wheels for Mac Pro at €849:alternative signed OWC at €254. See alsothese more classic supports with wheels for PC tower
• 4 Apple feet for Mac Pro at €349:cheap generic rubber alternative for€6 for 4
• Apple USB-C 30 W mains charger at €55:alternative Ugreen 36 W at €24, MFi
• Apple USB-C to USB-C cable 1m at €25:alternative Ugreen at €10, MFi
• Apple Lightning to SD card reader adapter for €35:alternative to findon Amazon, signed Hearkey, for €19
• Apple USB 5W power adapter for €25:manyquality alternatives available from €15
• Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm mini-jack cable for €39:Ugreen offers aMFi alternative at only €20

This is obviously not an exhaustive list. Many other accessories can be found from third-party manufacturers for less than what the Apple versions cost. Be careful, for certain items, notably chargers and cables, it is better to avoid falling for the cheapest price. Also turn only to the so-called alternativesMFi(Made For iPhone), which guarantees long-term operation with Apple devices.

All this to say that yes, the apple-marked cloth is expensive. But should we still be surprised at the prices charged by Apple on some of its accessories? With wheels for Mac Pro at almost €900, or even a simple USB-C to USB-C cable at €25, among many other examples, and without even mentioning Hermès solutions for Apple Watch, we know this well , Apple is not in the right market.

Afterwards, the price of the Apple cloth has the merit oftalk about the product, and maybe even sell some. So much so that the latter is already difficult to find, the Apple site is currently announcing 2 to 3 months in delivery time…

By the way,two new 14 and 16 inch MacBook Prosare available, as well as newAirPods 3!

Read about it:

• The summary of the “Hang on” keynote
• Keynote survey: what is THE new thing, in your opinion?
• AirPods 3 are out: what’s new?
• The first tests of the M1 Max are astonishing

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.