Apple’s HomePod Mini includes a secret sensor that hasn’t been switched on yet, and Apple won’t discuss it
- The sensor, made by Texas Instruments, was found after a HomePod was dismantled by iFixit
- It measures temperature and humidity, so will probably be used with smart hardware in the future
Apple’s HomePod mini speaker launched last November with new features such as a home intercom system. But one part of the device has remained secret: a sensor that measures temperature and humidity.
The California-based technology giant never disclosed this component and the device currently lacks consumer-facing features that use it.
The company has internally discussed using the sensor to determine a room’s temperature and humidity so internet-connected thermostats can adjust different parts of a home based on current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. The hardware could also let the HomePod mini automatically trigger other actions, say turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.
If Apple eventually enables the sensor, it would bolster a smart-home strategy that has sometimes lacked focus and lags behind those of rivals. Amazon’s latest Echo speakers have temperature sensors, while Google’s Nest sells sensors that can be placed around homes and connect to its thermostats to adjust the temperature of each room.
The new capabilities would be a particular boon to an Apple software system called HomeKit that controls thermostats, lights, locks, plugs and other devices in the home. HomeKit works with fewer gadgets than similar software from Amazon and Google, and Apple doesn’t make its own smart home hardware beyond the HomePod and Apple TV streaming box. However, there are about 40 thermostats featured on Apple’s website that are compatible with HomeKit.
The location of the sensor, measuring 1.5mm by 1.5mm, was confirmed by iFixit, an online community whose members help each other repair gadgets and takes apart new gadgets to inspect them. The sensor is made by Texas Instruments and is called the HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor, according to TechInsights, a firm that analyses components inside of electronics.