Touch Bar devotees have created a standalone, Apple-inspired sequel

The Touch Bar was a controversial creation from Apple, to say the least. But the now-defunct MacBook Pro feature is being revisited in a way, with a new Kickstarter campaign for a more versatile standalone product: the Flexbar.

Flexbar is a spiritual successor to the Touch Bar with more versatility

Flexbar was inspired by Apple's work with the Touch Bar, as its creators emphasize:

The end of support for the original Touch Bar didn't mean the concept was wrong – it just wasn't developed enough… the potential for a customizable, adaptive interface that could streamline workflows was huge.

Unfortunately, many users associate the Touch Bar with the problems of Apple's Butterfly keyboard, which is technically a separate issue.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

However, the Flexbar takes the essence of the idea and delivers it in a a standalone product that can work with a variety of devices and, importantly, does not require sacrificing a number of physical function keys.

Flexbar features include:

compatible with Mac, Windows and mobile devices
2K AMOLED display
USB-C connectivity
Non-slip silicone grips
Aluminum body and aluminum magnetic stand
Customizable tools to suit your needs

Prices range from $119 to $149 depending on when you go back, with an expected MSRP of $179 when it officially launches.

Tim's top comment

6 people like it

I'm intrigued because I really liked the Touch Bar. But like you, I'm going to wait until it actually comes out and gets reviewed. Even if it costs more.

View all comments

As with all Kickstarter campaigns, be careful if you plan to back it. Hardware devices, especially those that include software components like the Flexbar, are all over the place when it comes to Kickstarter successes and failures.

9to5Mac's Take

I've never owned a MacBook with a Touch Bar, but it always seemed like an interesting idea that suffered from execution issues. The Flexbar could be a great successor in theory, with the big asterisk that this is a Kickstarter campaign and we'll have to wait until the product gets into users' hands before we see how well — or poorly — it works.

Are you interested in the Flexbar? Did you like the Touch Bar back in the day? Let us know in the comments.