External keyboard with Touch Bar?

[MCAsan]

Needed for pre-2016 MacBooks, 2016 MacBooks when the clamshell is closed, Mac Pro, iMac, and Mac mini.

So anyone heard even a rumor of one from a 3rd party? I would think it will have to be released by Apple as part of the 2017 desktop Mac updates.

 

[Moccasin]

The main constraint I see is the Touch ID element requiring a chip with secure enclave which would raise the cost somewhat. Presumably there would be no problem in that chip being separate from the main machine - keyboard would send a message to the host machine confirming verification. There'd be possible merit in the trackpad having Touch ID too.

I imagine that the current magic keyboard has been designed with passive provision for that upgrade in future & we'll see an update to include Touch Bar when the iMacs are next refreshed. Hopefully they won't have the massive price increase that we saw in the MBP though.

 

[ctyrider]

There is already a thread on this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/new-external-magic-keyboard-with-touchbar.2009260/