In a surprising move, Apple Inc., the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally, is parting ways with one of its most controversial MacBook features after seven years in the game. This means the end of the road for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and its equally loved and loathed feature, the Touch Bar.
The Touch Bar’s Final Curtain Call
Media outlets have been buzzing with reports that the tech behemoth headquartered in Cupertino is discontinuing the 13-inch MacBook Pro, along with the Touch Bar. If you’ve been in the Apple ecosystem for a while, you’d know that the Touch Bar was quite the conversation starter. It was that touch-sensitive OLED display strip situated above the keyboard that took over the traditional function keys.
A World of Touch Bar Features
The Touch Bar was designed to replace those old-school physical buttons for functions like adjusting the volume, controlling screen brightness, and even offering handy features like typing suggestions and quick access to emojis and Siri. It didn’t stop there; it was smart enough to adapt its display based on the apps or systems you had open, making it a versatile tool. For example, when you were cruising on Safari, it would show your open tabs. Neat, right?
Say Hello to the 14-inch MacBook Pro
So, what’s the plan now that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is making its exit? Apple’s not leaving a void; they’ve got something exciting up their sleeves. They’re introducing the 14-inch, featuring the new M3 chip, which was unveiled at their recent “Scary Fast” Halloween-themed event.
Touch Bar Variants on Macbook
It’s worth noting that not all 13-inch MacBook Pros had the Touch Bar. Nonetheless, Apple has made it clear that they won’t be selling any new 13-inch MacBook Pros moving forward.
The Touch Bar Tale
The Touch Bar’s story has been a bit of a rollercoaster since its debut in 2016. Some users embraced it for the wide range of functions it offered within one sleek panel, while others found it to be more of an annoyance, prone to accidental taps. There were also those who simply missed the tactile satisfaction of pressing physical buttons instead of swiping across a dynamic touch-screen strip.
Apple’s Change of Heart
Considering the mixed feedback, Apple, the world’s largest company by market capitalization, decided to take a U-turn in 2021. They bid adieu to the Touch Bar on their 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, opting to bring back the tried-and true tactile function keys. In an interview that year, Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, expressed their decision, stating, “There’s no doubt that our Pro customers love that full-size, tactile feel of those function keys, and so that’s the decision we made. And we feel great about that.”
In conclusion, Apple is making some significant changes to its MacBook lineup, waving goodbye to the Touch Bar while ushering in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The Touch Bar’s journey had its ups and downs, with users expressing a range of opinions about its utility. With this move, Apple is staying true to its commitment to customer satisfaction and making changes based on user feedback. It’ll be interesting to see how this decision impacts the MacBook experience for Apple aficionados in the days to come.
