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The Late 2016 MacBook Pro Touch Bar was an OLED display paired with a touch digitizer: the panel shows content, while a separate sensing layer detects input. iFixit’s teardowns of the 13-inch and 15-inch models also identified several supporting chips, but they do not reveal a complete circuit design or prove that every Touch Bar generation uses the same construction.
What is the Apple Touch Bar screen made of?
Apple describes the Touch Bar as a Retina display and says it is “first and foremost an input device.” Those descriptions cover two related jobs: displaying interface elements and accepting touch input. In the Late 2016 models iFixit examined, the assembly included an OLED panel and a touch digitizer.
In its 13-inch Late 2016 teardown, iFixit identified components on the cable connecting the logic board to the Touch Bar display:
- STMicroelectronics STOD32A: an AMOLED power-management IC.
- Winbond W25Q40EWUXIE: 4 Mb serial NOR flash.
- Semtech RClamp3324T: four-line electrostatic-discharge (ESD) protection.
These are component identifications from the teardown, not a complete map of the cable or display electronics. iFixit described the cable as likely hosting display silicon, so its observations do not establish every part or connection in the display circuit.
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- Replacement Touch Bar Assembly (OLED Display Bar,Touch Sensitive Digitizer Face and Touch Bar Cable) for MacBook Pro 13" Retina (2020) A2289 A2251 (2020-2022) A2338 included
- Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Two Thunderbolt Ports Late 2020 A2338 (EMC 3578): MacBookPro17,1 M1 2020: MYDA2LL/A, MYD82LL/A, MYDC2LL/A or MYD92LL/A, Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Two Thunderbolt Ports 2022 A2338 (EMC 8162):Mac14,7 M2 Mid 2022: (3.49 GHz M2 8-Core)
- Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" 2020 A2289 (EMC 3456) : MacBookPro16,3 2020: MXK62LL/A, MXK72LL/A, MXK32LL/A, MXK52LL/A or BTO/CTO
- Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" A2251 2020 (EMC 3348) : MacBookPro16,2 4 TB 3 2020: MWP72LL/A, MWP82LL/A, MWP42LL/A, MWP52LL/A or BTO
- Our touch bar assembly are individually tested and guaranteed to function perfectly.
How does the Touch Bar detect touch?
Inside the Touch Bar, iFixit identified a Broadcom BCM5976TC1KUB60G touch controller. That finding supports the distinction between the OLED panel, which produces the image, and touch-sensing hardware, which registers a user’s input.
The teardown also noted an unmarked chip that iFixit thought was probably a display driver, based on its location. The report did not establish its manufacturer or part number, so its identity remains tentative.
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- Compatible Models: For Pro 13" A1706 2016-2017 A1989 2018-2019,
- Compatible P/N: For 821-00681,
- Compatible Models: For MacBook Pro 13" A1706 2016 | MacBookPro13,2 : MLH12xx/A, MLVP2xx/A, MNQF2xx/A, MNQG2xx/A, MPDK2xx/A, MPDL2xx/A; For MacBook Pro 13" A1706 2017 | MacBookPro14,2 : MPXV2xx/A, MPXW2xx/A, MPXX2xx/A, MPXY2xx/A, MQ002xx/A, MQ012xx/A; For MacBook Pro 13" A1989 2018 | MacBookPro15,2 : MR9Q2xx/A, MR9R2xx/A, MR9T2xx/A, MR9U2xx/A, MR9V2xx/A For MacBook Pro 13" A1989 2019 | MacBookPro15,2 : MV962xx/A, MV972xx/A, MV982xx/A, MV992xx/A, MV9A2xx/A.
- Package include: 1x Touch Bar as pictured
What the teardowns do—and do not—show
The hardware observations apply to the Late 2016 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models covered by iFixit’s 13-inch teardown and 15-inch teardown. They should not be treated as proof that later or otherwise different Touch Bar generations share the same components or layout.
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Rank #3
- Best Choice:If the touch bar assembly in the laptop is damaged or defective and not working, this Screen LED touch bar ribbon cable is the lowest cost solution to the screen LED touch bar not working problem. This will be your best choice.
- Compatible Model:Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar Late 2016 to Mid 2017 A1706 (EMC 3071) or (EMC 3163).Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar 2018 to 2019 A1989 (EMC 3214) or (EMC 3358).
- Identifying Numbers:821-00681-04,821-00681-A,AMS983 JC01.
- Part Assembly Includes:The touch bar assembly contains the LED display bar, touch sensitive digitizer face and touch bar cable.
- Tips:Before purchasing, please carefully review the product description and pictures and check your computer year and part number to make sure you are ordering the correct one.
Can you replace a MacBook Pro Touch Bar screen?
The two 2016 teardowns show why separating the screen layers can be difficult. On the 13-inch model, iFixit reported that its attempt to separate the OLED panel from the upper case instead separated the digitizer from the display; the Touch Bar flex cable also ran beneath the upper case. On the 15-inch model, strong adhesive likewise prevented clean separation. iFixit tried an opening pick, an X-Acto knife, isopropyl alcohol, a heat gun, and an iOpener, but still separated the digitizer from the OLED panel.
Those results describe the specific teardown devices, not every repair attempt or Touch Bar model. They do indicate that treating the panel and digitizer as an easily separable screen is risky. Before choosing a replacement part, check the exact MacBook Pro model identifier and confirm that the part matches its year, size, cable, and connector arrangement; these teardowns do not establish cross-generation compatibility.
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- Part Assembly Includes: The touch bar assembly contains the LED display bar, touch sensitive digitizer face and touch bar cable.
- Compatible Model: Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Two Thunderbolt Ports Late 2020 A2338 (EMC 3578): MacBookPro17,1 M1 2020: MYDA2LL/A, MYD82LL/A, MYDC2LL/A or MYD92LL/A, Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" Two Thunderbolt Ports 2022 A2338 (EMC 8162):Mac14,7 M2 Mid 2022: (3.49 GHz M2 8-Core).
- Compatible Model: Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" 2020 A2289 (EMC 3456) : MacBookPro16,3 2020: MXK62LL/A, MXK72LL/A, MXK32LL/A, MXK52LL/A or BTO/CTO.
- Compatible Model: Compatible with MacBook Pro 13" A2251 2020 (EMC 3348) : MacBookPro16,2 4 TB 3 2020: MWP72LL/A, MWP82LL/A, MWP42LL/A, MWP52LL/A or BTO.
The 13-inch teardown also notes a P2 pentalobe screw at the Touch Bar entry point and lists a 64-bit precision driver kit among the tools used. If opening the computer, verify the required bit and model-specific instructions first; having a precision screwdriver kit does not make the bonded display layers easy to separate.
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- Best Choice:If the touch bar assembly in the laptop is damaged or defective and not working, this Screen LED touch bar ribbon cable is the lowest cost solution to the screen LED touch bar not working problem. This will be your best choice.
- Compatible Model:Compatible with MacBook Pro 15" Touch Bar Late 2016 to Mid 2017 A1707 (EMC 3072) or (EMC 3162).Compatible with MacBook Pro 15" Touch Bar 2018 to 2019 A1990 (EMC 3215) or (EMC 3359)
- Identifying Numbers:821-00480-04,821-00480-05,821-00480-A,AMS983 JC02.
- Part Assembly Includes:The touch bar assembly contains the LED display bar, touch sensitive digitizer face and touch bar cable.
- Tips:Before purchasing, please carefully review the product description and pictures and check your computer year and part number to make sure you are ordering the correct one.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
