For the first time since the iPhone’s debut in 2007, Apple no longer sells a smartphone with a home button. The iPhone 16E announced yesterday removes it. The removal was long overdue, having been surpassed by all touchscreen controls many years ago. But while the home button’s time is over, it leaves behind an important legacy.

The Action button is available on nearly every iPhone Apple sells, offering a quick way to access a feature, app or shortcut on your phone, just by pushing a button. It can be a flashlight, activate a smart home routine or let you access any number of custom shortcuts without having to unlock your phone and pick through apps.

Apple's cheaper SE line was the last bastion of home button aficionados. The 16e, while also a relatively budget option, falls in line with the rest of Apple's iPhone lineup by sw

With the introduction of the iPhone 16e, Apple has officially ended the nearly two-decade run of the Home Button.

Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone 16e, a redesigned device positioned to bring flagship features, including Apple Intelligence, to more users at a lower price point. The successor to the iPhone SE shares the same shape as the mainline iPhone 16 series and features a 6.