Will the touch bar ever come back?

I know this reply is quite late, but I recently purchased a 2017 15 inch Macbook Pro, and I honestly love the touchbar. It makes the device feel more premium, and adds some convenient functionality, such as emoji predictions in iMessage. I should note though, that while Apple has ended support for major updates like Montery, Ventura, and Sonoma, there are still 3 years of security updates for each version. And beyond that, well just don't do anything obviously compromising your security, and you'll be fine. The majority of security threats are targeted towards Windows anyways because they have a much larger market share. So you can still use MacOS Montery just fine for years to come.

[Edited by Moderator]

Servant of Cats wrote:

There's no question that the 13" M2 MacBook Pro has a Touch Bar.

It's also discontinued in the U.S., Canada, the U.K.,

The specifications link was from the UK, so it is still there.

R.I.P. Touch Bar.

Not really, not for me, until I have my Intel MBP. 👌

If you REALLY like the Touch Bar, perhaps you would like using an iPad sidecar device with Apple Pencil as well.

Yes, iPad and Apple Pencil is a serious suggestion.

That is the way forward that Apple is supporting.

The Elgato Stream Deck might be a viable alternative. Not built in, and without having used it I can only guess it will be different both not-preferred and preferred ways.

The replacement for the Touch Bar is sidecar-connected Apple iPad, which includes not only touch support, but Apple Pencil support.

Alyssa_Alexsonshk wrote:

I agree with this post. I am very upset that Apple took away the touch bar. I would love if they brought back a MacBook Pro that had the option for a touch bar. I get it might not be some people's cup of tea, but to make the option completely unavailable is going to upset quite a few loyal Apple users. I think it should be an add-on option for those who like it and for those who wish to opt out they can.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

I am a touchbar addict. Without it every Mac looks and feels incomplete. I would love the 14, 15 and 16 variants of Mac to have the Touch Bar. The only reason I have not purchased the new ones till date and still using my 2016 Touch Bar version. And Apple is right now forcing people to buy the new mac's by dropping support for the 2016 dec variants after Monterey. Apple should know that people once used to the Touch Bar won't opt for lame buttons only keyboards layouts

The touch bar was one of the finest features of MacBook Pro machinI've never updated my 2016 15 inch Macbook Pro because Apple downgraded it into a lousy keyboard based system. When they brought it back to the 13 inch MacBook Pro I was anxiously waited for its return to the 14, 16 and the MacBook Air 15 inch. I believe Apple does not think outside the box for the benefit of its customers, but for the sake of their own egos

The Touchbar Macs were the highest-spec models, so they didn't sell as much as lower-spec models like MacBook Airs. That's always been the case even now. What's frustrating is Apple's utter silence on the matter, quietly removing the Touchbar without so much as an announcement and lack of communication on its status.

Yes I did post my concerns on Apple feedback, I feel that Apple should have done more to promote and further develop the technology instead of just abandoning it. Just as lots of individuals voiced their dislike for the Touch Bar feature, I felt I should voice my opinion as to liking it. The fact that I spent almost $4,000 on my MacBook, And when I upgrade in the future, I’m sure I’ll spend at least that much on a new one, I feel that entitles me to voice my opinion regarding features I would like to see on the product. I realize it’s up to Apple whether or not they’ll put the Touch Bar back on the MacBook, It gives me satisfaction to at least voice my concerns, And hopefully if enough of us give them feedback. It might make a difference.

I'm really curious how those who love the Touchbar actually use it. I can see some very small very specific use cases for some limited number of apps where the Touchbar could be highly useful, but for the majority of macOS apps out there I have never seen the Touchbar have any added benefit.

I really would like to know & understand exactly how people who like the Touchbar use it to improve their use of the laptop and their workflow.

That “highly useful” part is what touchbar comes as a handyman.

apps which I use the touchbar for

1) Xcode. Debug run jump.

2) music

3) brightness contrast

4) zoom calls

5) screen records

6) browser tabs.

literally makes life easy

plus it’s highly customizable nature adds value to many other apps. Such as preview. Photoshop. Premiere. And more.

For me, as someone who writes in three languages, I love the predictive text and real-time spellchecks that can instantly adapt to language switches by the sentence. It also makes using the screenshot app so easy and efficient, and of course player controls and sound, as well as calls, emojis, tabs and confirmation prompts.

also perhaps apple can fuse one into their external keyboards so those who need it can get it back. And price it a little low so that people can at least afford a simple device called "keyboard" than pay hundreds of dollars for it. It's a keyboard not a device that controls the world.