An Apple patent spotted by Patently Apple shows a spring-loaded pop-up iPhone home button that acts as gaming joystick when in the raised position. Or, in patent language: An electronic device ...

The iPhone 16e replaces the iPhone SE ... That version still used a mechanical spring mechanism. The Touch ID home button made its way to Apple's tablet with the iPad Air 2 the following year.

The patent includes drawings of an iPhone ... home button hard enough to lock it back into place. Other patent details include the possibility of adding additional sensors to the home button ...

A spring mechanism underneath the button will push the button ... is the best solution for gaming on the iPhone. Although some users may want a separate home button and joystick, Apple says ...

A major change to the iPhone lineup, the new solid-state home button is powered by Apple's Taptic Engine haptic feedback mechanism, which works to simulate a button press. The system is akin to ...

Hit the home button. Want to cycle through your open apps? Double-click that input mechanism. How do I talk to Siri? Hold down home. Sure, iPhone X swapped out screen gestures and lock button ...