Apple introduced the Touch Bar 10 years ago today at its "Hello again" event on October 27, 2016. The OLED Multi-Touch strip was pitched as "revolutionary," replacing the MacBook Pro's function keys. However, it divided users from the start, arriving alongside controversial changes like the butterfly keyboard and the removal of HDMI, SD card, and MagSafe ports.
The Touch Bar died slowly. A physical Esc key returned to the 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2019, and high-end models dropped the bar entirely in 2021. The 13-inch MacBook Pro, the last machine to feature it, was discontinued in October 2023. No Mac has brought it back since.
In a subtle quirk of history, Apple is expected to unveil its first touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro tomorrow, October 28, at a launch event in Los Angeles. This new model will feature a touch-enabled OLED display, potentially signaling a new direction for the Mac lineup.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing