The Flexbar’s design is a harmonious blend of elegance, usability, and practicality, striving to address exactly where its predecessor—the Apple Touch Bar—may have fallen short. At just 10.8 inches long, 0.6 inches wide, and 0.3 inches thick, it is sleek enough to visually complement Apple’s aesthetic while remaining unique in its own right. Encased in an aluminum alloy shell, it sits confidently alongside your Mac setup, blending naturally into the polished environment many Apple users adore so deeply. It feels considered yet unintrusive—light enough to easily carry with a laptop yet firm and durable in everyday use.
Front and center is an impressively bright 2K AMOLED screen, boasting a resolution of 2,170 by 60 pixels. While this isn’t a screen meant for watching videos or reading text, it strikes an optimal balance of being crisp enough for interaction yet unobtrusively slim. This thoughtful layout ensures the interface elements—buttons, sliders, and controls—are clearly visible and easy to interact with. For users frustrated by the Touch Bar’s limited adaptability, Flexbar’s precision is almost refreshing. The added layer of touch functionality, paired with haptic feedback, ensures users know exactly when a press or swipe is registered. For once, it feels intentional, even joyful, to use.
The product is thoughtfully designed with smooth black areas flanking either side of the display—these aren’t merely aesthetic choices. These areas function as actionable touch zones, such as a back button or to open hidden interface drawers. This clever addition combines function and visual balance, underscoring that Flexbar is designed not just to echo its predecessors but to think further ahead.
Perhaps one of Flexbar’s best-kept secrets lies in its portability and optional enhancements. At just 71.7 grams (2.5 ounces), the featherweight design ensures you can pack it into bags or carry it conveniently between desk and laptop setups. Eniac, the company behind Flexbar, includes a magnetic wedge-shaped stand in the package, designed to angle the bar upward toward the user when used on a desktop. For mobile-first users, this stand provides a stable and ergonomic experience, transforming the device’s extremely light weight from a potential flaw to thoughtful versatility. It might feel slightly elevated for MacBook setups, but for stationary desktop users, the thoughtful angling brings a significant boost in usability.
Connectivity-wise, the Flexbar communicates with its host via a USB-C cable included in the box. Although this might seem like a small compromise for those yearning for wireless solutions, tethering to a cable is essential given the ultra-slim design, where internal batteries would have bulked the product up. Whether plugged in through the left or right USB-C port, a user can reposition their Flexbar based on personal preference—a subtle but considerate touch.
While the Flexbar impresses in design and touch integration, small ergonomic challenges tied to its portability and ultra-light build may arise. For instance, without the magnetic stand, its smooth base may cause unintended sliding on slick surfaces. While Eniac does provide grip-enhancing pads in the box, such minor repositioning quirks can create friction for fast-paced daily use. That said, it’s a concession most users are likely to accept with enthusiasm, given the device’s thoughtful aesthetic and wired simplicity.
Functionally, the feedback is immediate, the screen bright and fully readable, and the Flexbar’s slender frame remarkably ergonomic. Every detail of its design nods to a deep commitment to refining user convenience. From the tactile dimensions to its OLED brightness, it is abundantly clear that Flexbar is more than a smarter Touch Bar—it’s a polished leap towards intuitive and interactive device control.
When weighing the Flexbar alongside the Touch Bar or the enthusiast-favorite Stream Deck, it’s clear that Eniac’s creation sets its own stage in the market. For users who were left underwhelmed by the Touch Bar’s limitations, the Flexbar emerges as a worthy contender, promising a more tailored, cross-platform approach. For others who leverage the versatility of the Stream Deck, the comparison is less straightforward but no less compelling. Each product offers a unique take on productivity enhancement, leaving the choice to hinge on individual needs, workflows, and preferences.
The Apple Touch Bar, though innovative in its time, suffered from the constraints of its own ecosystem. Its usability was bound tightly to macOS, offering little to no customization outside of pre-determined functions. Users looking for specific shortcuts or interaction patterns often found themselves frustrated. In this regard, the Flexbar feels like an answer to those unmet desires. The Touch Bar may have been ahead of its time, but its fixed design combined with inconsistent app support proved to be stumbling blocks. Flexbar addresses these shortcomings with its cross-platform compatibility and user-first customization, making it a genuinely adaptable solution whether you’re on macOS, Windows, or Linux.
On the other hand, the Stream Deck has long been a productivity champion for content creators, gamers, and professionals alike. Its tactile buttons and dynamic profiles remain a favorite for those who prefer physical feedback and quick macro execution. However, the Flexbar brings its own appeal to the table: a sleek, touchscreen interface that can provide a dynamic display of information in addition to traditional button functionality. Imagine switching between apps and having the display itself show you only the relevant controls—an organic interaction that Stream Deck’s fixed buttons cannot replicate.
Where Flexbar excels over both competitors is in its adaptability and design philosophy. Stream Deck users are restricted to discrete profiles arranged in grids, while the Flexbar’s continuous display allows for an uninterrupted and fluid workspace. Moreover, the ability to incorporate sliders, graphs, and even minimalist widgets like a real-time CPU meter or a clock adds dimensions of functionality that neither the Touch Bar nor the Stream Deck outright supports. These features make the Flexbar particularly ideal for users whose needs go beyond basic shortcuts—for instance, a creative professional juggling multiple design apps or a developer who benefits from monitoring real-time system statistics without losing desk space.
Yet, as impressive as its adaptability is, the Flexbar doesn’t have the tactile feel of the Stream Deck’s physical buttons—a feature many users find invaluable, especially in high-pressure workflows like live streaming or podcasting. The lack of established third-party app integrations, at least in its pre-release phase, also means it falls short of the Stream Deck’s ecosystem, which boasts hundreds of pre-designed plugins. Still, the promise of a plugin system and marketplace for Flexbar hints that these gaps may soon close.
For users debating between these devices, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and workflow demands:
- Touch Bar enthusiasts: The Flexbar is a natural upgrade with far fewer ecosystem constraints and a greater degree of customization.
- Stream Deck fans: If physical tactile buttons are a non-negotiable, sticking with the Stream Deck might be your best bet. However, if you long for a more integrated touch interface, the Flexbar offers an exciting alternative.
- New entrants to the productivity space: The Flexbar is an all-in-one solution that marries aesthetics with power and offers a balanced hybrid of touch-based interactivity and unlimited personalization.
Both the Flexbar and Stream Deck cater to niche markets, and comparing them head-to-head can feel like pitting apples against oranges. But what sets Flexbar apart is its highly customizable, touchscreen-driven philosophy, which positions it as a forward-looking innovation. While it echoes the ambition of the Touch Bar and caters to the functionality of the Stream Deck, it carves out its own path by attempting to blend beauty and interactivity in a way previous devices have struggled to do. Whether it’s ready to completely dethrone either competitor, however, will depend on how well its upcoming software and marketplace fully materialize.
The true allure of the Flexbar lies not just in its design but in its powerful software capabilities that offer unprecedented customization for users. At its core is the companion app, Flexbar Designer—a robust interface that serves as a gateway to unlocking the device’s full potential. While the hardware is sleek and intuitive, it’s the software that empowers users to transform the Flexbar into a tool that mirrors their specific needs and creativity. From custom buttons to dynamic pages that adapt to different workflows, the possibilities are extensive, catering to a broad spectrum of users, whether they’re creative professionals, productivity enthusiasts, or gamers.
Using Flexbar Designer, users are presented with a virtual representation of the bar, allowing them to configure and visualize their setup in real-time. Adding interactive elements is as simple as dragging and dropping customizable buttons, sliders, or widgets onto the bar. Each element can be modified to suit individual preferences—from the size and style of buttons, to the color scheme, fonts, and even the actions assigned to them. For instance, graphic designers can set up one page dedicated to Photoshop shortcuts and another for Illustrator, flipping between the two with a single tap. Gamers, on the other hand, can create a dedicated layout for specific titles, complete with in-game controls, macros, and even monitoring widgets like system performance stats.
What makes the Flexbar especially powerful is its ability to support more than just static functions. Users can add dynamic features such as live-updating graphs, sliders, and toggles. Imagine controlling the volume of your speaker or microphone by simply sliding your finger across a control bar, or monitoring your CPU and RAM usage in real-time while working on intensive projects. These features push the boundaries of traditional input devices, offering a level of interactivity that feels almost futuristic.
One of the standout features of the software is its capability to create nested pages and context-aware layouts. With support for up to 14 levels of nested menus, users can organize their workflows in ways that make sense to them, grouping related apps or tasks into hierarchies. For example, a video editor could have a top-level page for editing software, with subsections for Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro—each offering app-specific customization without cluttering the interface. This organizational flexibility ensures that the Flexbar adapts to users, rather than forcing them to conform to a preset system.
Perhaps one of the most exciting functionalities is the option to bind specific Flexbar pages to applications or windows. The bar automatically switches to a contextual layout depending on the active app or window on your computer. Moving from a browser to OBS Studio, for instance, could bring up different sets of controls tailored to the task at hand. This seamless transition not only enhances workflow efficiency but also minimizes the mental load of switching between tools, an often-overlooked aspect of productivity.
While the customizability is undeniably powerful, it does come with a learning curve. For tech-savvy individuals, the level of personalization may feel like an exciting playground, but for everyday users, it could seem daunting at first. The interface, though reflective of intent and flexibility, can be overwhelming for someone new to device customization. Setting up icons, linking shortcuts, and tweaking behaviors takes time and effort—something not all users are willing to invest upfront. However, Eniac seems well aware of this challenge and has plans for a future plugin system and marketplace that could make the process significantly more accessible.
The upcoming plugin system, slated for release in 2025, could be a game-changer. This feature would allow developers to create tailor-made plugins for popular applications, enabling one-click integration of pre-configured layouts. For example, a user could download a plugin for Adobe Lightroom and instantly gain access to a purpose-built Flexbar page with controls for sliders, brushes, and export settings. This addition has the potential to eliminate much of the initial setup work, expanding the device’s appeal to a wider audience.
Moreover, these plugins might not stop at app-specific layouts—they could introduce entirely new functionalities yet to be imagined. The emergence of a marketplace could also foster a community of users sharing their configurations, creating a repository of layouts tailored for various applications and workflows. From gamers uploading gaming layouts to developers sharing monitoring dashboards, the possibilities could transform Flexbar from a niche accessory to an essential tool for collaborative tech ecosystems.
Despite its current software’s impressive customization capabilities, challenges remain. Early adopters may experience frustration while navigating the learning curve or waiting for promised features like the plugin system to materialize. The available pre-configured layouts bundled with the device offer a helpful starting point but are limited when compared to what a fully-developed ecosystem could offer. For now, power users will revel in the depth of personalization offered by Flexbar Designer, but casual users may wish for a more streamlined, ready-to-use experience.
Ultimately, the current software design of the Flexbar is both its greatest strength and its most significant hurdle to adoption. The freedom to tailor it to your precise needs is unparalleled, but the time investment required to realize this potential could deter users accustomed to plug-and-play simplicity. As the ecosystem evolves with promised plugins and more intuitive onboarding processes, the Flexbar may become not just a customizable input device but a fully integrated enhancement to how people interact with their technology.
As with any innovative product, the journey of the Flexbar comes with its fair share of challenges, as well as exciting opportunities ripe for exploration. While the device’s early promise is undeniable, it’s important to approach its potential with both optimism and a realistic understanding of the hurdles it faces. Creating a successor to the Touch Bar means addressing not only the technical gaps of its predecessor but also convincing users of its value in an increasingly crowded and competitive market. The good news? Flexbar is well on its way to carving out a unique niche. Let’s dive into some challenges it faces, the potential it holds, and what the future of this fascinating device might look like.
First, let’s talk about early adoption hurdles. One immediate challenge is accessibility—both in terms of ease of use and price point. The Flexbar’s customization capabilities are a dream for power users, but the setup process currently demands a certain level of technical proficiency. While users who take to tinkering, like gamers, developers, or designers, may thrive in Flexbar Designer’s sandbox of options, casual users might find the process intimidating. Setting up complex workflows or assigning shortcuts to buttons is an interactive but time-consuming task. For those unfamiliar with configuring such devices, the experience could feel overwhelming, even frustrating at times.
Another key challenge? Convincing consumers of its relevance, especially in a post-Touch Bar era where skepticism might abound. The demise of the Touch Bar wasn’t just a matter of mediocre tech—it was a result of usability concerns, lack of customization, and unreliable support from software developers. For many users, investing in a device that echoes a similar concept could feel like a gamble. And when compared to popular alternatives like the Stream Deck, which has already cemented itself as a reliable productivity companion, the question arises: why switch?
This leads us to another hurdle: third-party app support. For a new device like the Flexbar to thrive, robust developer support and app integration are non-negotiable. Users expect seamless functionality out of the gate, and a lack of well-rounded integrations can be a dealbreaker. While Eniac’s promised plugin marketplace is an exciting prospect, it remains just that—a future promise. Current users must rely on manual customizations or pre-configured setups, limiting the device’s plug-and-play appeal. Without a solid ecosystem of readily available tools and integrations, the Flexbar could struggle to achieve the kind of universal relevance its creators envision.
That said, challenges often breed opportunities, and the Flexbar has no shortage of potential on the horizon. One of the most significant growth areas lies in the aforementioned plugin system and accompanying marketplace. If executed well, this feature could redefine how users interact with the Flexbar and dramatically lower the barrier to entry for new users. Imagine downloading a plugin for Final Cut Pro and having a fully-operational, intuitive Flexbar layout ready within seconds. This could eliminate the need for complex manual configurations, making the device accessible to tech newcomers while simultaneously thrilling advanced users with community-generated content.
Another opportunity lies in tapping into workflows that go beyond traditional computing—an avenue that past products, like the Touch Bar, didn’t fully explore. For example, in the streaming space, a Flexbar paired with OBS could allow users to control scenes and transitions with slider-based precision—something a traditional button grid couldn’t achieve. Similarly, creative professionals using software like Adobe Premiere Pro could benefit from dynamic tools such as interactive timelines, color-grading sliders, or a real-time export tracker displayed prominently on the Flexbar. By marketing these highly specific use cases to niche audiences, Eniac could position the Flexbar as a need-to-have tool, rather than just a nice-to-have accessory.
And let’s not forget future iterations of the hardware itself. While the current Flexbar’s wired connection and lightweight design are practical starting points, feedback from this generation could inform more advanced features in the second or third iterations. A future wireless version, for instance, could address users’ concerns about desk clutter and further elevate its portability. Meanwhile, a slightly heftier model with anti-slip materials or enhanced haptic engines might resolve complaints about its tendency to move when tapped too hard. Key updates like these could broaden its appeal and cement its status as an evolving product that grows with user feedback.
One of the most profound areas of potential lies in context-aware automation. Flexbar’s ability to switch layouts based on the active window or application already gestures toward a future of hyper-personalized interactivity. Imagine an evolution where the device doesn’t just adapt to applications but intelligently recognizes specific tasks or workflows within those apps. For example, switching to an export-focused page while rendering a project in Blender or entering a minimal distraction-free mode while drafting text in a word processor. Advancements like these could redefine how we perceive productivity peripherals and position Flexbar as more than an accessory—a true workspace companion.
Of course, no discussion of potential is complete without understanding the long-term vision. By actively prioritizing software improvements and pursuing integrations with major apps and platforms, Eniac will bridge the gap between promise and reality. Crowd-funded projects like this often grapple with uncertainty, so it’s encouraging to see consistent transparency from the team, particularly in rolling out updates and addressing user feedback. Ensuring timely feature rollouts and staying responsive to the community will be pivotal as the Flexbar competes in a technology landscape that shifts rapidly.
The Flexbar’s future could also benefit from expanding its appeal to a broader audience. Currently, its positioning leans heavily into creative and professional spaces, but there’s ample scope to market it as a tool for everyday users. Streamlined onboarding experiences, paired with integrations for consumer-focused tasks like media playback, basic photo editing, or even smart home controls, could introduce the Flexbar to users who need efficiency without complexity.
As it stands, the Flexbar is a promising device that seeks to not just replace but redefine the limitations of the Touch Bar. While challenges remain (as they always do with groundbreaking ideas), the possibilities it opens up far outweigh these initial hurdles. Its rich potential for customization, integrations, and community-driven content positions it as a gadget with a future brimming with opportunities. Whether as a productivity booster for professionals or an experimental tool for tinkerers, the Flexbar has the makings of a pioneering innovation in human-computer interaction. With thoughtful iterations and a commitment to addressing current limitations, Eniac has a strong chance to transform this vision into reality.
