So, you're wondering if the 2016 MacBook Pro still holds up in 2022? Let's dive deep and find out! The MacBook Pro 2016 was a significant release, introducing the Touch Bar and a redesigned keyboard, but it also faced its share of controversies. In this review, we'll look at its design, performance, display, keyboard, and whether it’s a good buy in today's market. Guys, tech ages fast, so let's see if this machine is a vintage gem or just plain old.

Design and Build Quality

When the 2016 MacBook Pro hit the scene, its sleek design immediately caught the eye. Apple went for a thinner and lighter profile compared to its predecessors. The all-aluminum chassis felt incredibly premium, as you'd expect from Apple. Holding it, you could immediately sense the attention to detail in its construction. It felt solid and well-built, a testament to Apple's commitment to quality materials and manufacturing processes. The reduction in thickness made it more portable, fitting easily into bags and backpacks, which was a big plus for professionals and students on the go.

The minimalist aesthetic was a hallmark of this design. The iconic Apple logo on the lid remained, but everything else was clean and uncluttered. The unibody design meant fewer seams and a more streamlined appearance. Color options were limited to the classic Space Gray and Silver, maintaining a professional and sophisticated look. The hinge mechanism felt sturdy, allowing for smooth opening and closing of the laptop without any wobbling. Even the placement of ports was carefully considered to maintain symmetry and balance. This design wasn't just about looks; it was about creating a seamless user experience from the moment you laid hands on the device. The unibody construction also contributed to the overall durability of the laptop, providing added protection for the internal components. Despite its slim profile, the MacBook Pro 2016 felt robust and capable of withstanding the rigors of daily use. For many users, the design alone was a significant selling point, showcasing Apple's dedication to blending form and function seamlessly.

Performance

Let's talk performance! The 2016 MacBook Pro came with Intel's 6th-generation Core i5 and i7 processors. While these CPUs were decent at the time, they're noticeably behind today's chips. For everyday tasks like browsing, email, and document editing, it's still pretty snappy. But when you start throwing heavier workloads at it—like video editing, gaming, or running complex software—you might find it starts to struggle. The integrated graphics also show their age, so don't expect to play the latest games at high settings.

In 2016, the performance benchmarks were respectable, but technology has marched on. The base models with Core i5 processors were adequate for general use, but the Core i7 versions offered a significant boost for professional tasks. The RAM options, typically 8GB or 16GB, were sufficient for most users, but those dealing with large files or running multiple applications simultaneously would benefit from the higher capacity. The SSD storage provided fast boot times and quick access to files, which was a major advantage over traditional hard drives. However, the storage options were limited compared to modern standards, with choices ranging from 256GB to 1TB. The integrated graphics, while improved over previous generations, were not designed for intensive gaming or graphics-heavy applications. Users who needed more graphical power often opted for the models with dedicated GPUs, which provided a noticeable performance boost. Despite these limitations, the 2016 MacBook Pro was still a capable machine for many tasks, offering a balance of performance and portability. The efficiency of the processors also contributed to decent battery life, allowing users to work on the go without constantly needing to find an outlet. Overall, the performance of the 2016 MacBook Pro was competitive for its time, but it has since been surpassed by newer models with more powerful hardware.

Display

The display on the 2016 MacBook Pro was a highlight. It featured a Retina display with a resolution of 2560x1600 on the 13-inch model and 2880x1800 on the 15-inch model. The image quality was sharp, colors were vibrant, and the brightness was excellent. It also supported the P3 wide color gamut, making it great for creative professionals who need accurate color representation. Whether you're editing photos, watching videos, or just browsing the web, the display made everything look fantastic. Seriously, it's still a pleasure to look at.

The Retina display technology packed into the 2016 MacBook Pro was a game-changer, offering pixel density so high that individual pixels were virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye. This resulted in incredibly sharp and clear images, making text look crisp and graphics appear stunning. The P3 wide color gamut support meant that the display could reproduce a broader range of colors than standard sRGB displays, allowing for more accurate and lifelike color representation. This was particularly beneficial for photographers, graphic designers, and video editors who relied on accurate colors for their work. The high brightness levels ensured that the display remained visible even in brightly lit environments, making it easy to work outdoors or in well-lit offices. The display also featured excellent viewing angles, allowing multiple people to view the screen simultaneously without any significant color distortion. Apple's attention to detail extended to the display's calibration, ensuring that it was accurately calibrated out of the box. This meant that users could trust the colors they were seeing without needing to perform additional calibration. The display's anti-reflective coating also helped to reduce glare, making it more comfortable to use for extended periods. Overall, the display on the 2016 MacBook Pro was a standout feature, offering exceptional image quality and color accuracy that made it a joy to use for a wide range of tasks.

Keyboard

Ah, the keyboard. The infamous butterfly keyboard. This was probably the most controversial aspect of the 2016 MacBook Pro. Apple aimed for a thinner design, but the butterfly mechanism was prone to issues. Many users experienced sticky keys, keys that didn't register, or keys that repeated unexpectedly. It was a mess. While some people got used to it, many found it frustrating and unreliable. Apple eventually switched back to the scissor mechanism in later models, acknowledging the butterfly keyboard's shortcomings. If you're considering a 2016 MacBook Pro, be sure to test the keyboard thoroughly.

The butterfly keyboard was introduced with the promise of improved stability and responsiveness, but it quickly became a source of frustration for many users. The keys had very little travel, which some people found uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to. The shallow key travel also made it harder to feel when a key had been properly pressed, leading to typing errors. The biggest issue, however, was the keyboard's susceptibility to dust and debris. Even small particles could get lodged under the keys, causing them to stick or stop working altogether. This problem was so widespread that Apple faced numerous lawsuits and complaints from users who had experienced keyboard failures. Apple did attempt to address the issue with revised versions of the butterfly keyboard, but none of these revisions completely resolved the problem. The unreliability of the keyboard was a major drawback for many potential buyers, and it tarnished the reputation of the 2016 MacBook Pro. The eventual return to the scissor mechanism in later models was seen as an admission of failure by Apple, and it highlighted the importance of keyboard reliability for professional users. Despite its other strengths, the keyboard was a significant flaw that made the 2016 MacBook Pro a risky purchase for many.

Touch Bar

The Touch Bar was another new feature on the 2016 MacBook Pro. This was a thin, touch-sensitive display that replaced the function keys. It aimed to provide context-sensitive controls, changing based on the application you were using. For example, in Safari, it might show back, forward, and refresh buttons. In Photoshop, it could display brush settings or layer controls. Some people found it useful, but others saw it as a gimmick. It wasn't universally loved, and many users preferred the traditional function keys. Plus, its usefulness varied greatly depending on the apps you used. Mixed feelings all around.

The Touch Bar was intended to enhance productivity by providing quick access to commonly used functions and contextual controls. It offered a dynamic interface that adapted to the application being used, displaying relevant tools and settings. For example, when browsing the web, the Touch Bar might show shortcuts for navigating pages or managing tabs. In creative applications like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Photoshop, it could display tools for editing images or videos, such as adjusting colors, cropping, or adding effects. The Touch Bar also supported customizable controls, allowing users to tailor it to their specific workflows. However, despite its potential, the Touch Bar had several limitations. One of the main criticisms was that it lacked tactile feedback, making it difficult to use without looking down at the keyboard. This slowed down typing and required users to divert their attention from the main display. Another issue was that not all applications fully supported the Touch Bar, which meant that its functionality was limited in many cases. Additionally, some users found the Touch Bar to be distracting or unnecessary, preferring the simplicity and reliability of traditional function keys. The Touch Bar also had a negative impact on battery life, as it consumed more power than traditional function keys. Overall, the Touch Bar was a polarizing feature that divided users. While some found it to be a useful tool that enhanced their productivity, others saw it as a gimmick that added little value and detracted from the overall user experience.

Battery Life

Battery life on the 2016 MacBook Pro was decent but not amazing. Apple claimed around 10 hours of battery life, but real-world usage often fell short of that. Depending on what you were doing, you could expect anywhere from 6 to 8 hours. Heavy tasks like video editing or gaming would drain the battery much faster. Over time, the battery would also degrade, reducing its capacity. If you're buying a used 2016 MacBook Pro in 2022, the battery health is something you'll definitely want to check. Keep that in mind!

The battery life of the 2016 MacBook Pro was a significant consideration for users who relied on their laptops for on-the-go productivity. Apple's initial claims of up to 10 hours of battery life were based on ideal conditions, such as browsing the web or watching videos at low brightness levels. However, in real-world scenarios, the battery life often fell short of these claims. Users who performed more demanding tasks, such as editing photos, rendering videos, or running multiple applications simultaneously, typically experienced shorter battery life. The battery's performance also depended on factors such as screen brightness, Wi-Fi connectivity, and the efficiency of the applications being used. Over time, the battery's capacity would naturally degrade, resulting in even shorter battery life. This was a common issue with all laptops, but it was particularly noticeable on the 2016 MacBook Pro due to its relatively small battery size. Users who needed longer battery life often had to resort to power-saving measures, such as reducing screen brightness, disabling Wi-Fi, or closing unnecessary applications. The battery's health could be checked through the system settings, allowing users to monitor its remaining capacity and overall condition. If the battery's health had deteriorated significantly, users could opt to replace it, either through Apple or a third-party service provider. Overall, the battery life of the 2016 MacBook Pro was adequate for most users, but it was not exceptional and required some management to maximize its performance.

Is It Worth Buying in 2022?

So, is the 2016 MacBook Pro worth buying in 2022? Honestly, it depends. If you can find one at a very low price and only need it for basic tasks, it might be okay. But keep in mind the potential keyboard issues and the aging hardware. There are newer, more powerful laptops available that offer better performance and reliability. Unless you're on a tight budget and know what you're getting into, you're probably better off looking at newer models or even a used MacBook Pro from 2017 or later. They offer significant improvements in performance, keyboard reliability, and overall user experience. Just sayin'!

When considering whether to buy a 2016 MacBook Pro in 2022, several factors come into play. The age of the hardware is a primary concern. The processors, graphics, and storage technology are several generations behind current standards, which means that performance may be noticeably slower compared to newer models. The infamous butterfly keyboard is another major consideration. The risk of experiencing keyboard issues is still present, and repairing or replacing the keyboard can be costly and inconvenient. The battery life is also likely to be degraded, which can limit portability. On the other hand, the 2016 MacBook Pro may be available at a lower price point compared to newer models, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. If the laptop is only needed for basic tasks, such as browsing the web, writing documents, or checking email, the performance may still be adequate. However, for more demanding tasks, such as video editing, gaming, or running complex applications, the 2016 MacBook Pro may struggle. It's also important to consider the availability of software updates. Apple typically provides software updates for several years after a product is released, but the 2016 MacBook Pro may eventually stop receiving updates, which could pose security risks. Overall, whether or not a 2016 MacBook Pro is worth buying in 2022 depends on individual needs, budget, and risk tolerance. It's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully and consider all the factors before making a decision.