MBP 2016 with Touch Bar or MBP 2017 without Touch Bar

[Syndromx]

Hi,

I am going to buy new MacBook Pro but I really cannot decide what model should I choose. MBP 2016 with Touch Bar or MBP 2017 without Touch Bar? Price is basically the same. I will be using it for web, MS office, online videos (YouTube, Netflix, twitch), iTunes movies, Photoshop (casual)+video editing (rarely).

I cannot see any advantages of touch bar for me but I guess 4 USB C ports will be nice to have in future. (On the other hand, I had surface pro 3 at work and I didn't really need that many ports)

Or... should I save some money and go with MBP 2016 without Touch Bar?

Thanks.

 

[GoBoSox]

Please note, the touch bar is not for everyone and unfortunately I did not test drive before buying - if you did end up buying a system with a touchbar - either you hate it due to the esc key or like it because it can be modified (except the esc key) - good luck!

 

[merrickdrfc]

I guess do you really need a MBP for that usage? The 12" MB would probably handle that stuff more than well enough?

If so, then the nTB will be more than enough for your usage, and can't imagine the 2 USB ports will be an issue? I very rarely exceed the use of 2 on my TB model. The TB model is better at handling intense workloads, and obviously has things like Touch ID if you want that, but other than that the nTB model will be perfectly fine for your needs.

 

[bruinsrme]

Note there are some differences between the two.
Fans and ports to name a couple.
Personally, I prefer the touch at. It’s taken a little bit to figure out why I would use it but over the past couple months I have started using it more and more.
As far as the ESC button ask yourself how often you have used it.
I tot the Apple keyboard with me not because of the escape key but because sometimes it’s more comfortable typing and using the screen.
The larger screen makes a difference IMO. The 13” displays more colors and is brighter.
Not sure why there would be a dislike for additional ports. I like having the option to use either side to plug in my connections.

 

[mguzzi]

The extra USB-C ports are worth it for future proofing and the graphics and processor will be fast enough. I know that the 2017 without touch bar doesn't have the same processor and performance as the 2017 with Touch Bar and I am not sure how the processor specs compare on the non touch 2017 vs the touch 2016.

I have the 2017 with touch because I got a crazy deal at Best Buy on an open box. We have a 2016 Touch Bar and work and I have used it as well and there isn't a noticeable difference. I have heard that the keyboard is slightly improved but that is about it.

 

[Flynnstone]

I just bought a 2017 mbp without touch. Apparently really a 2015 mbp without a external gpu. Bit disappointed , but I wanted MagSafe and usb type a without dongles. And sd card without a dongle.
Seems most refer the tha latest as MBP with touch, I call it “MBP with Dongles”

 

[Cougarcat]

Note that the MacBook Pro TouchBar version is actually a bit faster, but has a worse battery. Here's a good comparison thread. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-2017-13-touch-bar-vs-non-touch-bar.2059965/

If the price is the same I say go for the TB. I think the feature is a "nice to have" but not worth paying more money over. If a future model has a 15" without one for $100 or more less, that's what I'll get.

 

[colllin]

I have a 2016 MBP with Touch Bar. If someone offered me $100-200 right now to swap to a non-touch-bar MBP, I would absolutely go for it.

What are you upgrading from?

It actually sounds like you could get by with an iPad Pro for your use cases, and probably have better battery life. Note I only consistently get about 5 hours of battery life from my MBP, mostly web surfing and text editing, though I do use a ton of memory. The real energy destroyer is this beautiful screen. You need to keep it < 50% brightness to get longer battery life, so I mostly try to keep it right at 50%, but it STILL feels annoyingly dim a year after purchase, and it's also annoying to remember to turn the brightness up and down when I switch between battery and plugged-in. It's half-day battery life, not all-day battery life, and if I remember to plug it in, e.g. when I go to lunch, then I can mostly stay cordless all day, but it's a chore.

I upgraded from a 2012 MacBook Air, and I was not really impressed with the upgrade. As GoBoSox mentioned, I'm a developer who uses the "ESC" key a ton, and going to a virtual "esc" key is a huge drag. Not to mention that the entire physical keyboard feels different (and not necessarily better). Otherwise the most I use the Touch Bar for is the emoji keyboard, and fancier "touch" controls for brightness & volume. And the Siri button... except Siri has only worked properly about 30% of my ownership period, due to constant bugs. At first, I made a point of using the Touch Bar as much as possible. But over time, I barely use it anymore. I totally agree that you should actually go for the 12" MacBook unless you just want a bigger screen. In that case skip the Touch Bar.

I should also mention that, if you're picturing sliding some controls around, e.g. when editing video, or even watching a movie.... yes it's nice on a Touch Bar. BUT.... it's a tiny touch screen, and your finger covers all of it when you use it, so it leaves me feeling fat-fingered — it's really bad at fine control and adjustments. So you're better off realizing that the trackpad is already an amazing touch tool, AND it lets you see everything you're adjusting!

 

[Woyzeck]

Honestly, I‘d try to get one of the 2015 MBPs. About as fast, better connectivity, much better keyboard.

The touch bar is totally useless and the new MPB‘s keyboard a joke. My 2016 MBP is the worst Mac that I ever had.

 

[Spectrum]

You sum up nicely why the touchbar is a flawed design direction to go in. I really hope they remove it in future iterations...even though I know they won't.

I have a 2016 MBP with Touch Bar. If someone offered me $100-200 right now to swap to a non-touch-bar MBP, I would absolutely go for it.

What are you upgrading from?

It actually sounds like you could get by with an iPad Pro for your use cases, and probably have better battery life. Note I only consistently get about 5 hours of battery life from my MBP, mostly web surfing and text editing, though I do use a ton of memory. The real energy destroyer is this beautiful screen. You need to keep it < 50% brightness to get longer battery life, so I mostly try to keep it right at 50%, but it STILL feels annoyingly dim a year after purchase, and it's also annoying to remember to turn the brightness up and down when I switch between battery and plugged-in. It's half-day battery life, not all-day battery life, and if I remember to plug it in, e.g. when I go to lunch, then I can mostly stay cordless all day, but it's a chore.

I upgraded from a 2012 MacBook Air, and I was not really impressed with the upgrade. As GoBoSox mentioned, I'm a developer who uses the "ESC" key a ton, and going to a virtual "esc" key is a huge drag. Not to mention that the entire physical keyboard feels different (and not necessarily better). Otherwise the most I use the Touch Bar for is the emoji keyboard, and fancier "touch" controls for brightness & volume. And the Siri button... except Siri has only worked properly about 30% of my ownership period, due to constant bugs. At first, I made a point of using the Touch Bar as much as possible. But over time, I barely use it anymore. I totally agree that you should actually go for the 12" MacBook unless you just want a bigger screen. In that case skip the Touch Bar.

I should also mention that, if you're picturing sliding some controls around, e.g. when editing video, or even watching a movie.... yes it's nice on a Touch Bar. BUT.... it's a tiny touch screen, and your finger covers all of it when you use it, so it leaves me feeling fat-fingered — it's really bad at fine control and adjustments. So you're better off realizing that the trackpad is already an amazing touch tool, AND it lets you see everything you're adjusting!