Apple’s HomePod mini includes a hidden sensor that can measure temperature and humidity, possibly providing the means to power the next features that could come in a future software update, according to Bloomberg.
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Humidity and temperature sensor of a HomePod mini. Source: iFixit (via Bloomberg).
From the Mark Gurman report:
The company has debated internally about using the sensor to determine the temperature and humidity of a room, so that thermostats connected to the Internet can adjust different parts of the home based on current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. The hardware may also allow the HomePod mini to automatically trigger other actions, such as turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.
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Apple usually releases major HomePod software updates annually in the fall. It is unclear whether Apple will activate the temperature sensor or when, but its presence in the HomePod mini units that have already been sold suggests that this is a matter of time. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
The component measures 1.5 x 1.5 mm and is buried at the bottom edge of the plastic box of the “HomePod mini”, near the power cord. IFixit independently confirmed the existence of the sensor after an investigation of Bloomberg.
The sensor is manufactured by Texas Instruments, which calls it the “HDC2010 digital humidity and temperature sensor,” according to TechInsights, a company that analyzes electronics components. According to the report, the placement of the component suggests that its focus will be on the external environment, rather than having any internal diagnostic role.
The piece is located relatively far from the main internal components of the device, that is, it is designed to measure the external environment instead of the temperature of the other electronics of the speaker.
It’s not the first time Apple has included an inactive component in a product and then activated it using software. How Bloomberg notes, the 2008 iPod touch had a Bluetooth chip, but support for Bluetooth connectivity was activated the following year using the software.
If Apple decides to enable the sensor on the omeHomePod mini, it could pave the way for a more integrated smart home strategy for HomeKit, which controls thermostats, lights, locks, plugs and other household devices.
As the report notes, it could also help Apple’s HomeKit rival similar features already offered by competitors. For example. Amazon’s latest Echo speakers include temperature sensors, while Google sells sensors under its Nest brand that can be placed in homes and connected to thermostats to adjust the temperature in each room.