Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2016)
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| Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2016) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2016) |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
| Family | MacBook Pro |
| Released | October 2016 |
| Discontinued | 2017 (15-inch with function keys), 2019 (others) |
| Os | macOS Sierra (original) |
| Cpu | Intel Core i5/i7 (Skylake) |
| Memory | 8GB–16GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 256GB–2TB SSD |
| Display | 13-inch or 15-inch Retina |
| Touchbar | Optional Touch Bar and Touch ID |
| Predecessor | MacBook Pro (Early 2015) |
| Successor | MacBook Pro (2018) |
Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2016) The Apple MacBook Pro released in late 2016 marked a major redesign by Apple Inc. that consolidated the MacBook line and introduced the Touch Bar. It combined thinner industrial design from the MacBook (2015) with updated Intel processors and a high-resolution Retina display, positioning the model against rivals from Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft. The revision influenced later models and stirred debate across technology outlets such as The Verge, Wired, and TechCrunch.
Design and Hardware
The industrial design reflected influence from Jony Ive's design team at Apple Inc. and echoed aesthetics found in the MacBook Air and MacBook (2015), emphasizing an aluminum unibody chassis machined by suppliers in China and Taiwan. Dimensions and weight changes varied between the 13‑inch and 15‑inch models, and hardware decisions were discussed alongside analyses by iFixit, AnandTech, and Ars Technica. The chassis housed integrated speakers, a redesigned cooling system, and a larger Force Touch trackpad influenced by patents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Display and Touch Bar
Apple equipped the machines with a high‑resolution Retina display using IPS panels with wide color gamut support aligning with standards from International Electrotechnical Commission discussions and color management profiles used in Adobe Systems workflows. The headline feature was the multitouch OLED Touch Bar, a strip replacing the traditional function keys and incorporating Touch ID sensor technology licensed under ARM Holdings architectures for secure enclave operations developed by teams working under Craig Federighi. The Touch Bar integration prompted comparisons with hardware interfaces in devices from Samsung, Google, and Microsoft Surface prototypes analyzed at trade shows like CES.
Performance and Specifications
Processors were sixth‑generation Intel Core "Skylake" chips with integrated Intel HD or Iris Pro graphics; higher‑end 15‑inch models used quad‑core configurations competing with mobile CPUs employed by Dell XPS and HP Spectre families. RAM options used LPDDR3 modules paired to proprietary logic boards produced by suppliers including Foxconn and Quanta Computer. Storage used PCIe‑based NVMe SSDs; benchmarks from Geekbench, Cinebench, and PCMark were cited by reviewers at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Thermal throttling and sustained load behavior were topics of testing by Tom's Hardware and university research groups studying mobile thermals.
Keyboard, Trackpad and Ports
The keyboard introduced Apple's second‑generation butterfly mechanism developed after the first iteration in the 12‑inch MacBook (2015), a subject of scrutiny in service records maintained by AppleCare and reported by Consumer Reports. The Force Touch trackpad was substantially larger, using haptic feedback technology evolved from work by research teams at Apple Inc. and related suppliers. For connectivity, Apple moved to Thunderbolt 3 over USB‑C ports, aligning with standards ratified by the USB Implementers Forum and enabling peripherals from manufacturers like LG, Bose, and Samsung; the redesign eliminated dedicated ports for HDMI, SD card and MagSafe, a contentious change covered by outlets such as CNET and The New York Times.
Battery Life and Thermals
Battery capacities were balanced against the thinner chassis, with Apple quoting runtimes in scenarios similar to media playback benchmarks used by Consumer Reports and the Associated Press. Real‑world endurance testing by The Verge and Ars Technica showed variable results dependent on workload and power profiles managed by macOS power management systems overseen by teams led by Craig Federighi. Thermal behavior—particularly under sustained CPU/GPU load—generated analyses referencing cooling designs comparable to those used in high‑performance ultrabooks from Intel partner OEMs, and repairability discussions by iFixit highlighted serviceability limitations.
Software and macOS Integration
The machines shipped with macOS Sierra and later supported updates through macOS Catalina and beyond, integrating features tied to ecosystems developed by Apple Inc. teams such as Continuity with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The Secure Enclave and Touch ID integration built on foundations established by ARM‑based security work and authentication frameworks recognized by standards organizations like the FIDO Alliance. Pro workflows used applications from Adobe Systems, Autodesk, Final Cut Pro by Apple Inc., and development tools from Xcode for software testing and optimization.
Reception and Criticism
Initial reception combined praise for build quality and the Retina display from reviewers at Wired, The Verge, and The Wall Street Journal with criticism over the butterfly keyboard reliability cited by Consumer Reports and legal actions observed in class‑action reporting in The New York Times. The shift to Thunderbolt 3/USB‑C drew commentary from developers and accessory makers such as Belkin and Anker about adapter ecosystems, while repairability and upgradability concerns were emphasized by iFixit and consumer advocacy pieces in Forbes and Bloomberg Businessweek. The model's legacy influenced subsequent designs from Apple Inc. and competitors including Dell, HP, and Microsoft Surface lines.