Featured Image Credit: Future Publishing / Contributor / Getty
iPhone users are mourning the loss of a two-decade-old feature that has been officially removed from all devices.
On Wednesday (19 February), Apple announced the new iPhone 16e.
With it, the tech giant promises a large display, excellent battery life and, of course, it's kitted out with an array of Apple Intelligence features.
But alongside the announcement comes the retirement of an iconic feature: the home button.
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The Home Button first appeared on the original iPhone in 2007 and was a staple of Apple’s design for years.
It was present on every flagship iPhone model up until the iPhone 8, the iPhone SE series as well as all seven generations of the iPod Touch.
The iPhone SE was the last holdout for those who enjoyed the home button. But now, even Apple’s budget lineup is making the switch to Face ID and a full-screen experience.
And with the same continuing for the iPhone 16e, Apple has officially stopped selling any iPhone model with a Home Button - marking the end of an era.
Apple Hub posted from its X account announcing: "RIP Home Button on iPhone," adding that "Apple no longer sells an iPhone with a Home Button #AppleLaunch".
News spread fast and many iPhone fans jumped in to mourn the loss.
"RIP Home Button 2007-2025," one user posted whilst another commented: "You will be missed!!"
Another replied: "Rip to the good old days".
Some were less bothered about the change, writing: "To be honest, I don’t miss the home button at all."
While many may miss the familiar click of the Home Button, Face ID has proven to be an effective transition.
Over the years, Apple has silently phased out more and more physical buttons.
As a result, the company has strived to achieve a larger screen design whilst also simplifying the phone's aesthetic. It also meant the devices were less prone to wear and tear on the mechanical buttons over time.
Meanwhile, the iPad eliminated the home button in May of 2024 when Apple stopped selling the 9th-gen iPad - the last tablet to also offer a headphone jack and Lightning port.
It's clear the tech giant's vision for the perfect device is a sleek, seamless slab of glass that opts for gesture-based navigation features
and ‘Assistive Touch’ - which is now a long-standing accessibility setting of several iOS versions.
Users can handle all the generic functions via a small menu or toolbar on the screen without touching a single button.
