AirPods 3 and Polishing Cloth Orders Begin Shipping Out to Customers

Tomorrow is the official launch date of the AirPods 3 and accessories like Apple's $19 Polishing Cloth, and orders have now started shipping out to customers ahead of the Tuesday delivery day.

airpods 3 magsafe case
Multiple Twitter users and MacRumors readers have confirmed that their AirPods 3 shipped today after sitting at the "Preparing to Ship" status for several days.


We've also heard from several people that their Polishing Cloths are on the way. The $19 Polishing Cloth is one of Apple's most constrained items at the current time and orders placed today will not arrive until well into January. Stores are not carrying the Polishing Cloth at this time, and it is not clear if retail locations will have stock tomorrow.


As for the AirPods 3, those are more widely available. Orders placed today will deliver next week, and Apple retail locations are expected to have stock tomorrow. AirPods 3 are priced at $179.

AirPods 3 reviews just came out today and were highly positive, with reviewers praising the new and improved contoured fit, the optimized sound quality, the Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio features, and the long battery life.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
govee floor lamp

CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights

Sunday January 4, 2026 5:00 am PST by
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin 25W Battery magnetic

CES 2026: Belkin Announces Magnetic Ring Power Bank, Modular Dock, and More

Sunday January 4, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users. UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...

Top Rated Comments

ct2k7 Avatar
55 months ago
I don’t get the polishing cloth hype
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
55 months ago
Can’t wait for mine! This authentic, premium, touched by Tim Cook, Apple Polishing cloth is coming home soon.



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
55 months ago

I don’t get the polishing cloth hype
There isn’t any. Whilst many are getting it for simply for the jokes, Apple meanwhile will take it as further evidence that they can charge what they like, for whatever they like, and some will pay.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cptkent Avatar
55 months ago

I don’t get the polishing cloth hype
Wait for the unboxing videos. Then you will…. no probably not then either…
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nawk Avatar
55 months ago
The genius that suggested that they sell a square of material that cost 49 cents for $20 bucks should get a raise.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
55 months ago
Hell yeah my cloth is scheduled for tomorrow. My new MacBook Pro and AirPods also but who cares about those
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)