iFixit truly tore down Apple’s backordered $19 display fabric

I can’t say I anticipated there to be extra information about Apple’s $19 Screen Polishing fabric, however right here we’re. Not solely has iFixit given it the teardown remedy and a (maybe barely tongue-in-cheek) restore rating, nevertheless it’s apparently grow to be one in every of Apple’s hardest-to-get merchandise. And sure, to reiterate, we’re nonetheless speaking a couple of fabric made to wash your units’ screens.

As noted by The New York Times, the 6.3-inch-sided sq. of material is now backordered, with Apple’s web site saying that you simply received’t get it for 10-12 weeks, which means it’ll get delivered someday between January seventh and January twenty first, 2022. If you order just about any configuration of the redesigned MacBook Pro that the material launched with, you’ll get your custom-built laptop computer at the least every week earlier than you get your cleansing fabric — and that’s with the worst-case estimate for the MacBook and best-case one for the material.

Why is that this taking place? How did it be a focus for The New York Times? Maybe iFixit’s teardown will present some solutions! (Spoiler: nope.)

iFixit doesn’t have a devoted web page for The Cloth, so that you’ll must scroll previous a bunch of boring particulars concerning the MacBook that I’m undoubtedly not drooling over to see the outcomes. Once you do, although, its a surprisingly in-depth take a look at the accent. iFixit reveals that it’s truly two items of fabric glued collectively and even takes a microscope to it to match it to common outdated microfiber. The teardown is temporary (clearly, it’s actually a fabric), however properly value a glance.

Image: iFixit

But when in comparison with the truly respectable (for Apple, at the least) reparability of the brand new MacBook Pro, the Polishing Cloth will get a disappointing 0 / 10 restore rating for distracting the iFixit crew. That’s actually a bummer, as a result of for those who unintentionally reduce yours to items like iFixit did, you’ll have to attend a pair months to get a substitute.

Finally, for those who wanted but one more reason to take a look at iFixit’s article (apart from, you realize, the in-depth technical breakdown of Apple’s new laptops) simply know that it has one of many funniest American Psycho references I’ve seen for some time. Hats off to you, iFixit, for offering us with one thing enjoyable to have a look at on a Friday (and for coming to The Verge’s party to teach people how to fix JoyCon final weekend).

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