HomePod Mini features a dormant temperature and humidity sensor that can be activated in a future software update

Apple’s HomePod mini includes a dormant hidden sensor that can measure temperature and humidity, and may have the ability to power upcoming features that could appear in a future software update, according to Bloomberg

Humidity and temperature sensor of a ‌HomePod mini‌. Source: iFixit (via Bloomberg).

From Mark Gurman’s report:

The company has spoken internally about using the sensor to determine the temperature and humidity of a room, so that thermostats with internet connection can adjust different areas of a home based on current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. The hardware can also make the ‌HomePod mini‌ automatically trigger other actions, such as turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.

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Apple typically releases major HomePod software updates annually in the fall. It’s unclear if and when Apple will enable the temperature sensor, but its presence in HomePod mini devices that have already been sold suggests this is only a matter of time. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.

The part measures 1.5 x 1.5 mm and is buried in the bottom of the ‌HomePod mini‌ plastic case, near the power cable. The existence of the sensor was independently confirmed by iFixit after an investigation by Bloomberg

The sensor is made by Texas Instruments, which calls it an “HDC2010 digital humidity and temperature sensor,” according to TechInsights, a company that analyzes components in electronics. According to the report, the placement of the component suggests that the focus will be on the external environment, rather than an internal diagnostic role.

The part is relatively far from the main internal components of the device, which means that it is designed to measure the external environment rather than the temperature of the speaker’s other electronics.

This is not the first time Apple has included an inactive component in a product and enabled it via software at a later date. Like Bloomberg notes that the 2008 iPod touch had a Bluetooth chip, but support for Bluetooth connectivity was made possible via software the following year.

If Apple decides to enable the sensor in the HomePod mini, it could pave the way for a more integrated HomeKit smart home strategy that controls thermostats, lights, locks, plugs and other devices in the home.

As the report notes, it could also help Apple’s “HomeKit” compete with similar features already offered by competitors. For example. Amazon’s latest Echo speakers include temperature sensors, while Google sells sensors under the Nest brand that can be placed in homes and connect to the thermostats to adjust the temperature of any room.