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Apple No Longer Sells Any iPhones With a Home Button

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The new iPhone 16e unveiled today features Face ID instead of Touch ID. As a result, Apple no longer sells any new iPhone models with a Home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched all the way back in 2007.

2007-iPhone.jpg

After debuting in 2007, the Home button gained Touch ID fingerprint authentication when the iPhone 5s launched in 2013. Apple began phasing out the Home button when Face ID debuted on the iPhone X in 2017, and now that the previous iPhone SE with a Home button is discontinued, that process is now complete.

Touch ID is no longer available on any current iPhone models as of today, but it remains built into the power button on the latest iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models. Touch ID also remains a feature on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Article Link: Apple No Longer Sells Any iPhones With a Home Button
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/19/rip-iphone-home-button/
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
Apparently, that home button was weighing increased pricing down. ;)
Click to expand...

I mean, yeah. Those parts were 100% amortized and they were cheap. The 16e has to shoulder some of the cost of the new cellular modem, as well as the screen being more expensive, it needing a new chassis, etc.

I expect the 16e-2 will probably lower the price a bit if things stabilize, much like how the iPad 10 saw a price cut.

Most people will still buy this phone on contract and I expect a lot of deals and subsidies.
 
Fortunately you can program the Action button to replace the Home button with a "go to Home Screen" shortcut. Plenty of folks will miss the physical Home button!
 
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I think Apple could have continued with Touch ID had reasonably reliable on-screen fingerprint readers been available back then. Apple was not impressed with the optical and ultrasonic on-screen fingerprint readers at the time and went with Face ID instead.
 
MacRumors said:


The new iPhone 16e unveiled today features Face ID instead of Touch ID. As a result, Apple no longer sells any new iPhone models with a Home button, for the first time since the original iPhone launched all the way back in 2007.

2007-iPhone.jpg

After debuting in 2007, the Home button gained Touch ID fingerprint authentication when the iPhone 5s launched in 2013. Apple began phasing out the Home button when Face ID debuted on the iPhone X in 2017, and now that the previous iPhone SE with a Home button is discontinued, that process is now complete.

Touch ID is no longer available on any current iPhone models as of today, but it remains built into the power button on the latest iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models. Touch ID also remains a feature on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Article Link: Apple No Longer Sells Any iPhones With a Home Button
Click to expand...


TouchID was so much more reliable for me than FaceID, it's not even close...

FaceID doesn't work when I'm wearing my glasses, or hat, so it's 100% useless outside on a sunny day... slight changes in facial hair also seem to make it glitch..

TouchID just worked.. remember when Apple products... just worked? I could have my phone unlocked and ready to go before it was 100% out of my pocket ...

Just give me a Pro level iPhone w/ Home button/Touch ID.

SMH

apple.com/feedback
 
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jwd .... I remember, and miss, those days too. Was hoping for one more with the home button to last the next 5 years.

Most times I don't even need to pick up the phone (It had decent viewing angles) and with touch you could lay the finger to unlock and see the screen, and let it lock. Now you have to pick it up to look into it, then swipe after unlocking and not accidentally squeezing one of the side buttons.

I'd even use a flip phone if it had 2 things, good voice to text and a really good hotspot for when I wanted to use an iPad.
 
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bergmef said:
jwd .... I remember, and miss, those days too. Was hoping for one more with the home button to last the next 5 years.

Most times I don't even need to pick up the phone (It had decent viewing angles) and with touch you could lay the finger to unlock and see the screen, and let it lock. Now you have to pick it up to look into it, then swipe after unlocking and not accidentally squeezing one of the side buttons.

I'd even use a flip phone if it had 2 things, good voice to text and a really good hotspot for when I wanted to use an iPad.
Click to expand...
 
60 Hz on OLED looks less smooth than 60 Hz on IPS.

OLED screen flickers. All iPhones with OLED.

Please don't laugh, but I don't like that the infrared laser of Face ID shines directly into my eyes, and I often hold the screen very close to my face due to myopia.
I have read many times that the Face ID laser is safe and tested, but this does not reassure me.

I cannot replace my iPhone SE 2022 yet.
 
Now all new iPhones have that ridiculous bright white home bar glaring at you.
 
SactoGuy18 said:
I think Apple could have continued with Touch ID had reasonably reliable on-screen fingerprint readers been available back then. Apple was not impressed with the optical and ultrasonic on-screen fingerprint readers at the time and went with Face ID instead.
Click to expand...
Apple DID continue with Touch ID. They didn't need on-screen fingerprint readers "back then". As the article said, they are only just now discontinuing it.
 
There is nothing that will make me change from Android to be honest, getting rid of the touch ID will certainly put me off, the price is another, it may be cheap for an Iphone, but out of what I would pay for a phone.
nothing really new that stands out.
 
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