Getting 13-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro? Expect Less Battery
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar costs $300 more than the model without and also comes with a more powerful CPU and more ports. But you do lose one thing: about an hour of battery life.
On the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which continuously browses the web over Wi-Fi, the Touch Bar model lasted 8 hours and 46 minutes while the version with function keys lasted 9:50.
MORE: Apple MacBook Pro 2016: Full Review
Besides powering the more powerful processor and Touch Bar, the more expensive model has a slight hindrance in a smaller battery. The traditional function row configuration carries a 54.5 watt-hour battery, but the version with the Touch Bar wields a 49.2 watt-hour battery, so it literally has to do more with less.
You can read our review of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar here, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with function row review, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro review with Touch Bar.
We appreciated how small Apple managed to make every model, though the lack of choice in ports and the removal of the SD card slot means we'll be carrying lots of dongles around for a while.
Apple Laptop Guide
- Essential Apps for Your New MacBook
- Which MacBook Should You Buy?
- Best MacBook Decals and Skins
- The Best Apple Laptops
- See How Apple Compares to Other Laptop Brands
- Apple Tech Support Rating and Report Card
- What's in Apple's Warranty
Stay in the know with Laptop Mag
Get our in-depth reviews, helpful tips, great deals, and the biggest news stories delivered to your inbox.