Apple Drops the Home Button, Picks Face ID for All New iPhones
At the sleek Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, the tech giant announced a bold shift: the home button is officially dead for this lineup. Three fresh iPhones—iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and Xr—will shout farewell to the thumb‑press era and embrace Face ID full‑time.
Why the Home Button? Hard to Spot.
Since that first iPhone burst onto the scene, the home button has been the countdown to any Model X. Yet, with Face ID taking center stage, Apple feels it’s time for a dramatic change.
Remember the iPhone X from last year? While it waltzed into the spotlight, the older iPhone 8 and 8 Plus still marched on—stick to touch, stick to fingerprints.
iPhone Xs: The Legacy Updated
- 5.8‑inch OLED display (same screen as the iPhone X)
- A12 Bionic chip—speedier than ever
- Enhanced water resistance
- New‑gen rear dual‑camera sensor
- Improved TrueDepth camera for Face ID wizardry
Available colours: silver, black, and the bold new gold.
iPhone Xs Max: Bigger, Brighter
- 6.5‑inch OLED screen—big‑screen lovers rejoice
- Specs mirror the Xs but with more screen real estate
- Same trio of colours (gold added)
iPhone Xr: Budget‑Friendly Face‑ID Option
So what about those who like a pocket‑friendly phone without sacrificing Face ID?
- Same A12 processor as the Xs and Xs Max
- 6.1‑inch LCD—lower contrast and dynamic range than OLED, but still good enough for everyday use
- Single camera vs. Xs dual‑camera
- More fun colours: red, blue, yellow, black, white, and of course the classic silver/black
Price Tag and Availability
- iPhone Xs starts at $1,649 for the 64GB model—available in Singapore on Sept 21.
- iPhone Xs Max begins at $1,799 for 64GB—also drops on Sept 21.
- iPhone Xr leads at $1,229 for 32GB—available from Oct 26, pre‑orders kicking off Oct 19.
Apple’s final push? Let Face ID lead the way, ditch the habitual button press, and bring sleek new designs to every pocket. It’s a move that’s both forward‑thinking and oddly nostalgic—an ode to the past with a fierce bang into the future.
