MacBook Pro · Retina & Beyond · 2016
MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016)
A divisive redesign: a slim, all-USB-C body with a touch-strip "Touch Bar" replacing the function keys and the unloved butterfly keyboard. Pros grumbled about dongles for years.
Introduced the Touch Bar, Touch ID on Mac, and went all-in on USB-C.
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) (2019)
MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016): key facts
When was the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) released?
The MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) arrived on October 27, 2016. Apple discontinued it in 2019.
How much did the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) cost?
The MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) launched at $1,799 in 2016, about $2,357 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core i5/i7 at 2.90 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, 13" or 15" Retina, up to 2880×1800 display.
Why does the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) matter?
Introduced the Touch Bar, Touch ID on Mac, and went all-in on USB-C.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i5/i7 · 2.90 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Display | 13" or 15" Retina, up to 2880×1800 |
| GPU | Intel Iris / AMD Radeon Pro |
| Ports | 4× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) |
| Weight | 1.83 kg |
| Dimensions | Thin unibody |
| Operating system | macOS 10.12 Sierra |
| Released | October 27, 2016 |
| Discontinued | 2019 |
| Launch price | $1,799 |
How the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.90 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.1× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 65,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,799 in 2016, about $2,357 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The Touch Bar quietly disappeared a few years later; few mourned it.
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Open the MacBook Pro (Touch Bar, 2016) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11