Apple has finally announced the end of the era for the controversial Touch Bar feature. The tech giant unveiled a new entry-level version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, effectively replacing the 13-inch MacBook Pro that featured the Touch Bar keyboard. The key highlight of this new model is the integration of Apple’s latest M3 chip, which marks a departure from the higher-end Pro or Max chips used in the 14-inch model before.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the M3 chip, which was rumored to be based on a cutting-edge 3nm process. Apple promises substantial performance improvements over the previous 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, with the new chip boasting Final Cut Pro rendering speeds up to 60 percent faster. However, it’s important to note that Apple has only shared selective performance statistics, leaving some uncertainty about how big of a leap the M3 chip represents compared to the older M1 model, not to mention the M2.

Despite the move away from the Touch Bar, the new base-level MacBook Pro retains the external design of the 14-inch MacBook Pros, featuring a 14-inch display and the signature notch.

However, with the upgraded specs comes a higher starting price. The M3 MacBook Pro will kick off at $1,599, a $300 increase from the M2 MacBook Pro’s starting price of $1,299. It’s worth noting that the base configuration includes only 8GB of RAM, which may be seen as modest given the laptop’s premium pricing. Additionally, the sleek space black color option remains exclusive to the higher-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros equipped with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, which still start at $1,999.

The Touch Bar made its debut in MacBook Pros in 2016 and had a dedicated following, but it ultimately failed to gain enough popularity to secure a long-term spot in Apple’s lineup. The company discontinued it in the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros introduced in 2021, but it lived on in the 13-inch Touch Bar model with the M1 and M2 chips until now.

For those eager to get their hands on the new MacBook Pro, it will be available for pre-order starting Monday and is set to hit the market on November 7th.