Apple Adding First MacBook Pro With Touch Bar to Vintage Products List

[MacRumors]

Apple will be adding the first 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar to its vintage products list on July 31, the company said in an internal memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week.

The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were released in October 2016 as part of a complete redesign of the MacBook Pro. Other new features included a thinner and lighter chassis, the much-maligned butterfly keyboard, Touch ID, a larger trackpad, and the removal of all ports except for Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack.

Apple removed the Touch Bar from the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but it is still available on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The memo, obtained by MacRumors, indicates that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and several other devices will also be classified as vintage at the end of the month. The full list of devices that will become vintage as of July 31 is outlined below:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2016)
• iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
• iMac (27-inch, Retina 5K, Late 2015)
• iPad Pro (9.7-inch, Wi-Fi)
• iPad Pro (9.7-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular)

Apple classifies a device as "vintage" after five years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale. The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were discontinued in June 2017, so the five-year mark has recently passed.

Until mid-2018, vintage products were ineligible for Apple-approved repairs, but Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers are now able to repair devices for up to two years after they are classified as vintage, subject to parts availability.

Apple will also be adding the original iPad mini released in 2012 to its obsolete products list on July 31, according to the memo. Apple classifies a device as "obsolete" after seven years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale, and obsolete devices are no longer eligible for repairs from Apple, except where permitted by law.

Article Link: Apple Adding First MacBook Pro With Touch Bar to Vintage Products List

 

[Spike1999]

Wow time flies …

 

[antiprotest]

Wow time flies …

I was going to say, it feels like just yesterday when that "thing" was released.

 

[gpat]

Skip the vintage list, add it straight to the dumpster pile.





EDIT: I'm pasting here this reply to my post. It fits too well.

a brief moment of movie appreciation 101.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I remember buying that model and thinking the Touch Bar would be great. Once it got delivered and I tried using it, I saw that the TB aspect wouldn't practical for me. I returned it to Apple.

 

[dantracht]

Wow, that was fast. Let's be honest, they weren't that good.

 

[aibo82]

It feels like the are rushing to drop the support for Intel Based macs quickly!

Even Ventura don’t support anything under 2017 models.

 

[and 1989 others]

Most ridiculous design decision since putting the charging port for the Magic Mouse on the under side

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

RIP 🪦. Seems like it was yesterday when the Touch Bar was first released. It’s too bad it did not live up to its hype like the Face-ID.

Touch Bar embedded on 💻 screen would have been more beneficial and useful.🤪

 

[Le0M]

Somehow I get the feeling that the word "vintage" is used to kinda ridiculize those who actually deserve a monument for sticking to a device for more than 6 years, and this is outrageous.
As ridiculous as it sounds, companies shouldn't try and convince us to buy a new product every year. They should focus on production quality, so as to waste less energies and resources from this planet.
I'll never get tired of pointing these things out.

 

[6787872]

disgraceful product. good riddance

 

[leftroom]

I don't write here so often but I always loved the MacBook Pro. NOT this one! But I had a 15" Retina Macbook Pro before, so I thought when this was introduced in 2016 it would be as great as my Retina. But it wasn't. 8 months after my purchase I sold it for loss and bought an iMac instead.

 

[Anson_431]

I still think the Touch Bar is a very good concept that was delivered very poorly in actual usage scenarios.

I still think the guy who thought using the Touch Bar to scroll through a Final Cut timeline is a good idea deserves to be punished - it could’ve been defaulted to clip volume control for example!

It was such a wasted opportunity when the designers obviously weren’t video editors

 

[manwithashoe]

Seems like they messed up with the T1 as a transitionary chip…

 

[jz0309]

Had it on my 16 MBP, tried it but never really used it. Unless one works 100% on the laptop, it would be useful, had they released a keyboard with it, it could be useful… RIP touchbar

 

[AJB1971]

Regardless of the product itself, it does seem that Apple is shortening the time until devices are classed as obsolete. I've just checked and my previous laptop, the 13-inch late 2013 MacBook Pro Retina, was made obsolete on the 31st of March 2021 so it seems a bit soon to be moving on to late 2016 models.

 

[Runway]

Regardless of the product itself, it does seem that Apple is shortening the time until devices are classed as obsolete. I've just checked and my previous laptop, the 13-inch late 2013 MacBook Pro Retina, was made obsolete on the 31st of March 2021 so it seems a bit soon to be moving on to late 2016 models.

Apple is following their standard practice. As stated in the original post by MacRumors, "Apple classifies a device as "vintage" after five years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale. The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were discontinued in June 2017, so the five-year mark has recently passed". Your 2013 MacBook Pro Retina enjoyed a longer 'run' before it was discontinued in 2016, whereas this first-run Touch Bar Pro was discontinued after 1 year.

 

[jav6454]

It feels like the are rushing to drop the support for Intel Based macs quickly!

Even Ventura don’t support anything under 2017 models.

Apple did this back in the Snow Leopard days. So yes, it makes sense to drop model quickly in order to slim down binaries.

 

[Wokis]

Apple will also be adding the original iPad mini released in 2012 to its obsolete products list on July 31, according to the memo.

I guess it's great that it officially receives the stamp of obsolescence now, but oh boy has it been close to a paper weight for many years.

I played with mine today actually. The entire OS rebooted when I tried visiting macrumors' forums Great flappy bird machine, though. 10/10 experience.

 

[JustinRP37]

This was the worst piece of garbage computer I have ever owned. Almost switched away from Apple because of this piece of garbage. The first one I received hard logic board issues and had to be replaced. Then the keyboard broken literally every year I owned it.

 

[dysamoria]

RIP 🪦. Seems like it was yesterday when the Touch Bar was first released. It’s too bad it did not live up to its hype like the Face-ID.

Touch Bar embedded on 💻 screen would have been more beneficial and useful.🤪

It’s still in new machines, from what I recall of the recent announcements…🤷🏽‍♂️

 

[Funny Apple Man]

I didn't own a Mac (and wasn't really into the Apple ecosystem) during that era and I'm glad I didn't. If this was the first new Mac that I bought, then I'd still be using Windows today.

 

[sw1tcher]

All the people buying the 13" MacBook Pro with M2 are buying a vintage Mac 🤣

 

[Taz Mangus]

Probably next year my 2015 13” MacBook Pro will be added to this list.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I still like the Touch Bar. 🤷‍♂️