Apple has an unused, hidden sensor inside the HomePod mini which could measure the current temperature and humidity in any room it is placed in, according to Bloomberg.
The report suggests that in a future software update, Apple could enable the sensor so that internet-connected thermostats could adjust the temperature in different parts of a home based on current conditions, as well as automatically triggering other HomeKit actions, depending on the temperature.
The sensor is placed away from the internal electronics, near the power cable in the rear plastic of the unit, Bloomberg reports, which points to the sensor being intended to measure room temperature and humidity, rather than a sensor to detect overheating.
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.
Apple introduced the HomePod mini in October, announcing this month that it was discontinuing the original HomePod after being announced four years ago.
Image: iFixit (Via Bloomberg)