The HomePod mini reportedly has a secret temperature sensor. What’s it for?

Properly, nicely, what have we right here: a secret sensor hidden deep throughout the HomePod mini’s shell? The just-discovered element might imply that Apple could have new performance for its smaller—and shortly to be solely—sensible speaker up its sleeves.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a dependable supply for Apple rumors and leaks, first reported the existence of the itty, bitty chip, which is reportedly a Texas Devices-built temperature and humidity sensor.

Gurman requested the Apple tear-down detectives at iFixit to dig round for the sensor, and so they discovered it crammed contained in the HomePod mini’s base, nestled subsequent to the captive energy wire.

Whereas temperature sensors are frequent in PCs, laptops, and different units to detect overheating, the sensor within the HomePod mini is just too distant from the speaker’s central parts to serve that function, Gurman notes. As an alternative, the situation of the sensor suggests it’s designed to measure exterior somewhat than inside temperatures.

Ben Patterson/IDG

Apple didn’t make any point out of a temperature sensor when it unveiled the HomePod mini final fall, nevertheless it’s not that uncommon for merchandise to ship with dormant options. Gurman serves up the instance of the Bluetooth radio in 2008’s iPod contact that was enabled a yr later by a software program replace, however I’m additionally considering of the dormant (and now useful) IR distant sensor in 2019’s Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box, in addition to the microphones in Denon’s Dwelling audio system that may soon be used by Alexa.

So, what does Apple take note of for the HomePod mini’s temperature and humidity sensor? Based on Gurman, Apple has mulled the concept of utilizing the sensor to ship temperature information to HomeKit-enabled thermostats. One other risk is that the sensor might act as a “set off” for different sensible units, equivalent to linked plugs or followers.

Because it so occurs, one other just-announced and competing system within the sensible speaker/show class will ship with a temperature sensor: the upcoming Google Nest Hub. The Nest Hub’s temperature sensor works in live performance with the show’s sleep-sensing options, with the sensor designed to warn you in case your bed room’s temperature is just too excessive or too low at night time. In fact, the sensor might wind up having further makes use of, however Google hasn’t introduced any at this level.

In any case, it seems Apple is seeking to ramp up the HomePod mini’s sensible capabilities, which additionally embody a Thread radio that permits the smaller HomePod to attach different Thread-enabled units (equivalent to Nanoleaf’s Essentials smart lights and a few recently announced Eve smart devices) to the web.

Bloomberg’s report of the HomePod mini’s hidden sensor comes a bit of greater than every week after Apple introduced that it’s discontinuing the larger HomePod, a transfer that leaves the mini as Apple’s sole sensible speaker.