What exactly is the difference between the two hard tops?

MIC is textured molded in color with three removable panels. Two over the front seats and one over the rear seats. Back shell is also removable.

Modular top is smooth and painted. It has the same removable panels plus the rear side glass panels are removable.

This is with the four door.

With the two door the modular has a removable escape hatch panel over the rear seats.

Tops are MIC at launch, the black painted option are "late availability".

MIC = Molded In Color. Means it's the "sort of" natural color of the mold they make the top out of. In the case of the Bronco it's a bit grayish.
Shadow black = Painted black top (in follow up years could be body colored), starts similar to MIC but has paint applied to it.

Painted tops take two (or more) stages in the manufacturing process. Because painted tops take longer to get out the door, most car manufacturers may have MIC (or other non painted parts) at a vehicles launch. Common things like bumpers might be done in a non-painted version the first model year then body colored the following year.

Great insight, thank you.

I am coming off of a Wrangler Unlimited with the black hardtop. I feel the more "matte" MIC will hold up better over time. I am concerned that the high gloss black hardtop will be very susceptible to scratches over the long haul.

That said, I feel I made the right decision by going with the MIC dual top option. I can live without being able to remove the rear side glass.

I think the MIC over Lightning Blue on an FE will look sharp and add a bit of contrast, especially with the black trim.

Paint will peel over time. MIC will fade.

So the MIC isn’t Black like im seeing on all the you tube videos