An open Apple HomePod mini that shows the hidden temperature and humidity sensor.
Source: iFixit; Enlarged by Bloomberg
Source: iFixit; Enlarged by Bloomberg
Apple Inc. HomePod Mini Speaker launched last November with new features, such as a home intercom system. But one part of the device remained secret: a sensor that measures temperature and humidity.
The technology giant from Cupertino, California, has never released this component and the device currently has no features that consumers face. The company has internally discussed the use of the sensor to determine the temperature and humidity of the room so that the internet-connected thermostats can adjust different parts of a house according to the current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. With the hardware, the HomePod mini can also have other operations activated automatically, for example to switch a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.
Texas Instruments humidity and temperature sensor from a HomePod mini.
Source: iFixit; Enlarged by Bloomberg
If Apple finally turns on the sensor, it will reinforce a smart-home strategy that sometimes has not had enough focus and pursues that of competitors. The latest Echo speakers from Amazon.com Inc. has temperature sensors, while Google’s Nest sells sensors that can be placed around homes and connected to thermostats to adjust the temperature in each room.
The new features are a special blessing for an Apple software system called HomeKit that controls thermostats, lights, locks, plugs and other appliances in the home. HomeKit works with fewer devices than similar software from Amazon and Google, and Apple does not make its own hardware like the HomePod and Apple TV streaming box. However, there are about 40 thermostats on Apple’s website that is compatible with HomeKit.
Size comparison of the temperature sensor and an SD card.
Source: iFixit
The sensor, which is 1.5 by 1.5 millimeters in size, is buried in the lower edge of the HomePod mini plastic casing case near the power cable. The position of the component was confirmed by iFixit, which took one of the speakers apart after a query from Bloomberg News. The sensor is manufactured by Texas Instruments Inc. and is called the HDC2010 digital humidity and temperature sensor, according to TechInsights, a company that analyzes components in electronics.
The part is located 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 other electronics of the speaker. Many mobile devices have sensors that can cause the device to slow down performance or disable features to prevent component overheating.
The other side of the sensor.
Source: iFixit
While rare, this is not the first time Apple has slipped a dormant piece of technology into its devices. The 2008 iPod touch has a Bluetooth chip, but support for Bluetooth connectivity was turned on via software the following year. Apple usually releases major HomePod software updates annually in the fall. It’s unclear if or when Apple will turn on the temperature sensor, but its presence in HomePod mini units already sold suggests it’s just a matter of time. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
Apple only had a serious offer in the smart home market in 2018 with the original HomePod. This device was recently discontinued after weak sales. Some decision makers at the company are concerned that it may be too late for Apple to make a strong entry into the sector, especially as it focuses on other new categories such as virtual and augmented-reality headphones and electric autonomous motors. Others believe that the business can take its time and that customers will still be interested.
Apple’s HomePod mini speaker launches during a virtual product launch.
Photographer: Daniel Acker / Bloomberg
Some insiders blame the lack of progress so far in the house on Siri, Apple’s voice recognition service which, although improving, is still considered Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. Either way, no unifying strategy has emerged so far, said one of the people familiar with the situation. The people asked not to be identified and discussed sensitive issues. This comes after Apple tried to refurbish its smart home efforts a new team that started forming it in 2019.
Apple continues to spruce up this opportunity through updates to individual devices. Prior to the release of the larger HomePod, the company was working on an updated version in 2022 that would be released. New speakers with screens and cameras have also been developed, but such a launch is not near. Apple is also working on an update to the Apple TV decoder. Until then, Apple will probably try to unlock most of the features of the HomePod mini.