There are a few aspects of the 2016 MBP that are great improvements over the 2015 and earlier models (I have a brand new 2015 13' MBP for work purposes too, so I'm comparing two brand new devices): Even if it cost ~$300 more than it should. And in 2016, when the shoe dropped and the Air went on life support (along with the Pro and Mini, it seems), I decided to give the 2016 13' MacBook Pro with Touch Bar a try. So every year I watched and waited, and the Air line got more stale. Really, the only two things I would've liked to have changed on my Air were a retina display and a nicer keyboard. Unfortunately, that never panned out, as Apple introduced the 12' MacBook, which is a nice computer in its own right, but not nearly as utilitarian as an Air, with its two USB ports, a Thunderbolt port, and a Magsafe connector. After seeing the beautiful retina displays on MacBook Pros, I was biding my time for a new MacBook Air model that would include retina. I have been using an 11' MacBook Air as my primary computer since 2011 (I've owned three separate 11' models-I love this netbook-like form factor!). Apple critics were quick to jump on the bandwagon and trash the laptop, but as an 'Apple fanatic', I was willing to give the Touch Bar a fighting chance.Īfter all, I thought, surely an engineer or manager would've put an end to the Touch Bar if there wasn't some redeeming value, right? Late last year, Apple introduced the controversial '2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar', and there was quite a backlash from the developer community. And I've never returned a Mac, until today.Ī close-up of the Touch Bar, one of Apple's most controversial innovations. I use a Mac as my daily driver, and have rarely made a tech-related purchase I regretted. I even maintain a huge list of all the Macs I've owned! I could justifiably be labeled an 'Apple fanatic'. I've also owned almost every generation of iPhone and iPad. I've owned almost every generation of Mac desktop and laptop computers, and have survived many transitions: 680x0 to PowerPC, Classic Mac OS to OS X, to the PowerPC to Intel switch. Read on for detailed Battery stress tests, performance tests, and an exploration of how Apple's botched this year's Pro lineup. Tl dr: After two weeks of use, I returned my 2016 13' MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and bought one with Function Keys instead.

Late 2016 macbook pro 13 no touch bar