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Touch Bar MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published December 11, 2020
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What custom processor options are available for the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models? Do they have a processor that can be upgraded?
The processor in all MacBook Pro models -- including the "Touch Bar" lineup sold in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 -- is soldered in place and cannot be upgraded after purchase.
However, at the time of purchase, some models can -- or could -- be upgraded with a faster processor than the stock models.
"Late 2016" MacBook Pro processors could be upgraded accordingly:
"Late 2016" MacBook Pro |
Standard Processor |
Upgrade Options |
Upgrade Price |
2.0 GHz Core i5 (I5-6360U) |
2.4 GHz Core i7 (I7-6660U) | US$300 |
|
2.9 GHz Core i5 (I5-6267U) |
3.1 GHz Core i5 (I5-6287U) 3.3 GHz Core i7 (I7-6567U) |
US$100 |
|
2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-6700HQ) |
2.9 GHz Core i7 (I7-6920HQ) |
US$300 |
|
2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-6820HQ) |
2.9 GHz Core i7 (I7-6920HQ) |
US$200 |
The "Mid-2017" MacBook Pro processors could be upgraded, too:
"Mid-2017" MacBook Pro |
Standard Processor |
Upgrade Options |
Upgrade Price |
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-7360U) |
2.5 GHz Core i7 (I7-7660U) | US$300 |
|
3.1 GHz Core i5 (I5-7267U) |
3.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-7287U) 3.5 GHz Core i7 (I7-7567U) |
US$100 |
|
2.8 GHz Core i7 (I7-7700HQ) |
3.1 GHz Core i7 (I7-7920HQ) |
US$200 |
|
2.9 GHz Core i7 (I7-7820HQ) |
3.1 GHz Core i7 (I7-7920HQ) |
US$200 |
The "Mid-2018" MacBook Pro models -- all of which have Touch Bar-capability -- also had processor upgrade options:
"Mid-2018" MacBook Pro |
Standard Processor |
Upgrade Options |
Upgrade Price |
2.3 GHz Core i5 (I5-8259U) |
2.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-8559U) | US$300 |
|
2.2 GHz Core i7 (I7-8750H) |
2.9 GHz Core i9 (I9-8950HK) |
US$400 |
|
2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-8850H) |
2.9 GHz Core i9 (I9-8950HK) |
US$300 |
The "2019" MacBook Pro models, all Touch Bar-equipped, also have processor upgrade options. Note that the 16" models are current whereas the 13" and 15" models have been discontinued:
"2019" MacBook Pro |
Standard Processor |
Upgrade Options |
Upgrade Price |
2.4 GHz Core i5 (I5-8279U) |
2.8 GHz Core i7 (I7-8569U) | US$300 |
|
1.4 GHz Core i5 (I5-8257U) |
1.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-8557U) |
US$300 |
|
2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-9750H) |
2.4 GHz Core i9 (I9-9980HK) |
US$300 |
|
2.3 GHz Core i9 (I9-9880H) |
2.4 GHz Core i9 (I9-9980HK) |
US$200 |
|
2.6 GHz Core i7 (I7-9750H) |
2.4 GHz Core i9 (I9-9980HK) |
US$300 |
|
2.3 GHz Core i9 (I9-9880H) |
2.4 GHz Core i9 (I9-9980HK) |
US$200 |
The "2020" MacBook Pro models, all with 13" displays and Touch Bar-equipped, also had processor upgrade options:
"2020" MacBook Pro |
Standard Processor |
Upgrade Options |
Upgrade Price |
1.4 GHz Core i5 (I5-8257U) |
1.7 GHz Core i7 (I7-8557U) | US$300 |
|
2.0 GHz Core i5 (I5-1038NG7) |
2.3 GHz Core i7 (I7-1068NG7) |
US$200 |
For those who have not been following the Mac market for more than two decades like EveryMac.com, the PowerBook G3 line is the last Apple notebook line to have upgradable processors. The PowerBook G3 series has processors mounted on a removable card and EveryMac.com still provides a list of upgrade cards compatible with these now vintage Macs.
What type of RAM do the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models use? Which RAM upgrade options are available for the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models? Is it even possible to upgrade the RAM?
All "Late 2016" and "Mid-2017" MacBook Pro as well as the 13-Inch "Mid-2018" and "2019" MacBook Pro models -- as well as the entry-level 13-Inch "2020" MacBook Pro models (A2289) -- use LPDDR3 SDRAM whereas the 15-Inch "Mid-2018" and "2019" MacBook Pro models use faster DDR4 SDRAM. The higher-end 13-Inch "2020" MacBook Pro models (A2251) use even faster LPDDR4X SDRAM.
The RAM in all of these models is soldered and cannot be upgraded after purchase. However, some models could be upgraded at the time of purchase:
"Late 2016" MacBook Pro RAM Upgrade Options
"Late 2016" MacBook Pro |
LPDDR3 |
Std. RAM |
Upgrade |
13-Inch |
1866 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
13-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
15-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
16 GB | None |
"Mid-2017" MacBook Pro RAM Upgrade Options
"Mid-2017" MacBook Pro |
LPDDR3 |
Std. RAM |
Upgrade |
13-Inch |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
13-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
15-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
16 GB | None |
"Mid-2018" MacBook Pro RAM Upgrade Options
"Mid-2018" MacBook Pro |
RAM Speed |
Std. RAM |
Upgrade |
13-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
15-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2400 MHz (DDR4) |
16 GB | 32 GB |
"2019" MacBook Pro RAM Upgrade Options
"2019" MacBook Pro |
RAM Speed |
Std. RAM |
Upgrade |
13-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
13-Inch (Touch Bar, 2 TB 3) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
15-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2400 MHz (DDR4) |
16 GB | 32 GB |
16-Inch (Touch Bar) |
2666 MHz (DDR4) |
16 GB | 64 GB |
"2020" MacBook Pro RAM Upgrade Options
"2020" MacBook Pro |
RAM Speed |
Std. RAM |
Upgrade |
13-Inch (2 TB 3) |
2133 MHz |
8 GB | 16 GB |
13-Inch (4 TB 3) |
3733 MHz (LPDDR4X) |
16 GB | 32 GB |
The addition of higher capacity RAM options for later MacBook Pro models is a significant improvement to the line. Early models could not be upgraded beyond their default RAM.
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