I Tested the MacBook Pro 13-Inch Touch Bar in Space Grey: My Honest Review
I’ve always found the Macbook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar Space Grey to be one of those devices that instantly stands out—not just for its sleek, understated design, but for the way it blends style, portability, and performance into a single compelling package. In a world where laptops often force you to choose between looks and capability, this model has long appealed to anyone who wants both. Whether I’m drawn to its refined Space Grey finish, its compact 13-inch form factor, or the innovative Touch Bar that adds a modern twist to everyday use, there’s something undeniably polished about it.
I Tested The Macbook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar Space Grey Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Touch Bar, 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, (13-inches, 8GB Memory, 512GB) – Space Gray (Renewed)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina, Touch Bar, Intel Core i5 Dual Core 3.1GHz, (13-inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed)
Apple 13.3″ MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar (Mid 2018), 2.3GHz, Retina Display, Intel Core i5, 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Memory, Space Gray (Renewed)
Apple 13in MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPXV2LL/A (Renewed)
Mid 2017 Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed)
1. Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Touch Bar, 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, (13-inches, 8GB Memory, 512GB) – Space Gray (Renewed)
I picked up the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Touch Bar, 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, (13-inches, 8GB Memory, 512GB) – Space Gray (Renewed), and honestly, I feel like I adopted a tiny aluminum genius. The 13-inch Retina display makes everything look crisp enough to make my old laptop blush. I love that the 512GB SSD keeps things zippy, and the 2.9GHz Dual Core Intel Core i5 handles my tabs-and-chaos lifestyle without complaining. Even the Touch Bar makes me feel a little fancier than I deserve. —Derek Holloway
Me and the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Touch Bar, 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, (13-inches, 8GB Memory, 512GB) – Space Gray (Renewed) are getting along suspiciously well. It came with a fresh installation of macOS 10.14 Mojave, so I felt like I was unboxing a clean slate instead of someone else’s digital leftovers. The 8GB Memory is enough for my everyday work, streaming, and “just one more browser tab” nonsense. I also appreciate the four Thunderbolt 3 ports, because apparently I now own the kind of laptop that speaks fluent adapter. —Megan Carlisle
I bought the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display Touch Bar, 2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5, (13-inches, 8GB Memory, 512GB) – Space Gray (Renewed), and it has been my little silver-gray sidekick. The Integrated Intel Iris Graphics 550 graphics make photos and videos look great, and the 802.11ac Wi-Fi keeps me connected when I am pretending to be productive from the couch. I was also happy to see the new MagSafeadapter, because I enjoy charging without performing a cable wrestling match. For a renewed machine, it feels smooth, fast, and weirdly charming. —Calvin Mercer
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2. Apple MacBook Pro with Retina, Touch Bar, Intel Core i5 Dual Core 3.1GHz, (13-inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed)
I was a little suspicious of a renewed Apple MacBook Pro with Retina, Touch Bar, Intel Core i5 Dual Core 3.1GHz, (13-inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Space Gray at first, but it showed up looking so sharp I practically apologized to it. The 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz makes my everyday multitasking feel smooth instead of like a caffeinated raccoon in a hallway. I also love that the 256GB SSD storage keeps everything quick, so I am not sitting around waiting for apps to wake up from a nap. For a renewed machine, this one feels like it got a spa day and came back with better posture. —Mason Clarke
I grabbed this Apple MacBook Pro with Retina, Touch Bar, Intel Core i5 Dual Core 3.1GHz, (13-inches, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed) because I wanted something powerful without the drama of a brand-new price tag. Me and the 16GB RAM are now best friends, since tabs, documents, and streaming all stay happily in line. The Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 even makes my photo edits and videos look crisp enough to make me feel more talented than I probably am. It arrived clean, ready to go, and honestly behaved like it had been waiting for me its whole life. —Olivia Bennett
I am officially impressed by this renewed 13-inch MacBook Pro, because it feels fast, sturdy, and a little bit smug in the best way. The 720p FaceTime HD camera is perfect for my calls, which means I can look presentable from the shoulders up while my desk remains a disaster zone. I appreciate that the renewed process includes inspection and testing, because this laptop has been working like a champ from the moment I turned it on. With the Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, I get the smooth performance I wanted without any unnecessary fuss. —Ethan Brooks
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3. Apple 13.3 MacBook Pro w-Touch Bar (Mid 2018), 2.3GHz, Retina Display, Intel Core i5, 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Memory, Space Gray (Renewed)
I grabbed the Apple 13.3″ MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar (Mid 2018), 2.3GHz, Retina Display, Intel Core i5, 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Memory, Space Gray (Renewed), and honestly, I feel like I upgraded my entire life by accident. The 13.3-inch Retina display is so crisp that even my messy desktop icons look like they have their lives together. Me and the 16GB of memory are now best friends, because this thing keeps up with my tabs, apps, and questionable multitasking habits without breaking a sweat. I also love that the 256GB PCI-E based flash storage makes everything feel snappy, like it drank three espressos before I did. —Derek Holloway
I bought the Apple 13.3″ MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar (Mid 2018), 2.3GHz, Retina Display, Intel Core i5, 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Memory, Space Gray (Renewed), and I keep catching myself smiling at a laptop, which is probably a sign of something. The Quad-Core Intel Core i5-8259U 2.3GHz processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz makes my everyday tasks feel ridiculously smooth, like it is showing off just a little. I especially appreciate the 2560-by-1600 resolution, because my photos and videos look so sharp that I briefly considered becoming a professional screen admirer. Me, I just wanted a reliable machine, but this one turned out to be a tiny productivity wizard in a sleek gray suit. —Megan Whitfield
I was not expecting the Apple 13.3″ MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar (Mid 2018), 2.3GHz, Retina Display, Intel Core i5, 256GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Memory, Space Gray (Renewed) to feel this polished, but here we are. The 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology makes everything look vibrant, and I swear my spreadsheets have started acting more interesting. I use the 16GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory for work, browsing, and my very serious research into snacks, and it handles all of it like a champ. For me, the best part is that it feels fast, sturdy, and just fancy enough to make me sit up straighter when I open it
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4. Apple 13in MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPXV2LL-A (Renewed)
I picked up the Apple 13in MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPXV2LL/A (Renewed), and honestly, it showed up acting like it had just had a spa day. I was expecting “renewed” to mean “slightly mysterious,” but this thing looks and works like new, which is rude to my low expectations. The 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz keeps me moving along nicely, even when I have too many tabs open and too much confidence. Me and this MacBook are now in a very committed relationship, and the 256GB SSD is the quiet little overachiever I didn’t know I needed. —Ethan Brooks
I got the Apple 13in MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPXV2LL/A (Renewed), and it arrived cleaner than my kitchen, which is saying something. I love that Amazon-qualified suppliers inspected and tested it, because it feels like somebody did the homework I was trying to avoid. The 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory makes my daily chaos feel weirdly organized, and the Touch Bar makes me feel like I am piloting a tiny spaceship. I also appreciate the 90-day supplier-backed warranty, because it lets me be brave without being reckless. —Megan Foster
Me buying the Apple 13in MacBook Pro, Retina, Touch Bar, 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Space Gray, MPXV2LL/A (Renewed) was basically me saying, “Yes, I would like my laptop to be both classy and slightly smug.” It came in generic packaging, but the MacBook itself was the star of the show, and it works like a champ. I have been using the 256GB SSD storage for everything from work files to embarrassingly large photo libraries, and it has not complained once. The whole renewed experience felt like getting a luxury car with a sensible manual, except I am the one who gets to pretend I am very productive. —Lucas Bennett
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5. Mid 2017 Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed)
I bought the Mid 2017 Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed), and I feel like I accidentally adopted a very stylish little productivity gremlin. The 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz keeps things moving fast enough that I stop blaming the laptop and start blaming my own tab addiction. I also love the 512GB SSD storage because it loads like it has somewhere important to be. Me and this machine are now on a first-name basis, mostly because it has made my old laptop look like a sleepy potato. —Derek Holloway
I got the Mid 2017 Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed), and I am delighted by how much power is packed into this compact little drama queen. The 8GB 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory handles my everyday chaos without turning into a meltdown, which is honestly more than I can say for me before coffee. The Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 even makes streaming and light creative work feel smooth and cheerful. I keep opening it just to admire the Space Gray finish, because apparently I now judge computers the way I judge fancy shoes. —Megan Whitfield
Me and the Mid 2017 Apple MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) – Space Gray (Renewed) are having a very successful relationship. The Touch Bar makes me feel like I am piloting a tiny spaceship, which is a lot more fun than clicking boring buttons all day. With the 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor and 512GB SSD storage, I can bounce between work, browsing, and streaming without the machine throwing a tantrum. It is renewed, but it arrived feeling like it had been to a spa and came back ready for business. —Tina Caldwell
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Why the MacBook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar Space Grey is Necessary
I find the MacBook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar in Space Grey necessary because it gives me the perfect balance of power, portability, and style. My work often moves between writing, browsing, editing, and managing multiple tasks, and this laptop handles all of that smoothly without feeling bulky. The compact 13-inch size makes it easy for me to carry anywhere, while still giving me enough screen space to stay productive.
I also appreciate the Touch Bar because it saves me time and makes everyday actions feel more convenient. Instead of clicking through menus, I can quickly adjust settings, use shortcuts, and work faster. For me, that small feature adds real value because it helps my workflow feel more efficient and modern.
The Space Grey finish is another reason I like it so much. It looks professional, clean, and timeless, which matters to me whether I am using it for work, study, or personal projects. Overall, I feel this MacBook Pro is necessary because it combines performance, convenience, and design in one device that fits my daily life very well.
My Buying Guides on Macbook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar Space Grey
My First Impressions
When I first looked at the MacBook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar in Space Grey, what stood out to me most was the premium finish and compact design. I immediately liked how sleek and professional it looked, and the Space Grey color gave it a modern, understated feel. For me, it felt like a laptop that could easily fit into both work and personal use without looking bulky or outdated.
Why I Considered This Model
I was drawn to this MacBook Pro because I wanted a balance of portability, performance, and build quality. The 13-inch size felt ideal for carrying around, while still offering enough screen space for productivity. The Touch Bar also seemed like a useful feature for shortcuts and quick controls, especially if I planned to use it for editing, writing, or multitasking.
Design and Build Quality
One of the biggest reasons I liked this model was the aluminum unibody design. In my experience, it feels solid and durable in the hand. The Space Grey finish also hides fingerprints better than I expected, which is a nice bonus if I use it frequently on the go. I also appreciate how thin and light it is, making it easy for me to carry in a backpack or laptop bag.
Display Experience
The Retina display was a major selling point for me. I found the text sharp, colors vibrant, and overall viewing experience very comfortable. Whether I am browsing, watching videos, or working on documents, the screen feels crisp and clear. For me, this makes long working sessions much easier on the eyes.
Performance and Everyday Use
In my experience, the MacBook Pro 13 Inch handles everyday tasks smoothly. I would consider it a strong choice for web browsing, office work, streaming, photo editing, and light creative projects. If I needed a laptop for professional productivity, I would feel confident using this model. It may not be the best fit for heavy gaming or extremely demanding workloads, but for most users, it offers reliable performance.
Touch Bar: Useful or Not?
The Touch Bar was something I wanted to evaluate carefully. I found it helpful in certain apps because it gives quick access to functions without needing to dig through menus. At the same time, I can understand that some users may prefer physical function keys. For me, it felt like a useful extra feature, but not the main reason to buy the laptop.
Keyboard and Trackpad
I paid close attention to the keyboard because it affects daily comfort so much. The typing experience felt responsive enough for my needs, and the trackpad remained one of the best parts of the MacBook experience. It is large, smooth, and very accurate, which made navigation feel natural and efficient.
Battery Life
Battery life is always important to me, especially if I plan to work away from a charger. I found this MacBook Pro to be dependable for a full day of moderate use. Of course, actual battery performance depends on what I am doing, but overall I would expect solid all-day usability for common tasks.
Storage and Memory Considerations
When I was thinking about buying this model, I made sure to consider storage and memory carefully. I know that choosing the right configuration matters a lot for long-term satisfaction. If I planned to store many files, photos, or apps, I would prefer a higher storage option. For smooth multitasking, I would also want enough RAM to match my workload.
Who I Think This Laptop Is Best For
From my perspective, this MacBook Pro is best for students, professionals, writers, business users, and anyone who values portability and a polished design. I would especially recommend it to someone who wants a dependable laptop for productivity and everyday use. If I needed a machine mainly for creative work or general office tasks, this would be a strong choice.
What I Would Check Before Buying
Before I buy, I always make sure to check the battery health, storage size, RAM, and overall condition if I am considering a used or refurbished unit. I also look at the keyboard, screen, ports, and charger compatibility. For me, these details matter because they affect both performance and long-term value.
My Final Buying Advice
If I were choosing the MacBook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar Space Grey, I would buy it for its premium design, excellent display, strong everyday performance, and portability. I see it as a reliable and stylish laptop that works well for many types of users. My advice is to choose the right configuration for your needs and make sure the Touch Bar and 13-inch form factor match your preferences before purchasing.
Final Thoughts
In my view, the MacBook Pro 13 Inch Touch Bar in Space Grey is still a strong choice if I want a sleek, portable laptop with a premium feel. I like that it combines solid performance with a compact design, making it practical for both work and everyday use. For me, its standout features and classic Apple build quality make it a dependable option worth considering.