Apple is Enabling Temperature and Humidity Sensors on its HomePod Mini
- Laurent Giret
- Jan 18, 2023
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Apple has just announced a 2nd-gen HomePod earlier today that has built-in temperature and humidity sensors. Bloomberg previously reported that the cheaper HomePod Mini that Apple released back in November 2020 had similar sensors, and Apple is finally turning them on.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who previously broke the story about the secret sensors in Apple’s HomePod Mini confirmed on Twitter that the sensors are going live today. Apple has acknowledged the presence of these temperature and humidity sensors on the HomePod Mini on the comparison section of the product page for the 2nd-gen HomePod (via MacRumors).
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This is finally active in the Mini and the new big HomePod announced today https://t.co/sD67ZIFMbW
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) January 18, 2023
Apple explains on this product page that “Temperature and humidity sensing is optimized for indoor, domestic settings, when ambient temperatures are around 15º C to 30º C and relative humidity is around 30% to 70%. As noted by some users on Twitter, the activation of these sensors on the HomePod Mini may not be available for all users yet. You may try to ask Siri what’s the temperature or humidity level in the room to see if the sensors are already enabled on your HomePod Mini.
These sensors can be used to configure automation scenarios. As an example, you can configure routines to automatically close blinds if your indoor temperature reaches a certain level. Just like the 2nd-gen HomePod, the HomePod Mini can be used as a Smart home hub and it’s compatible with the Matter smart home standard.
Last fall, Amazon also added a temperature sensor to its 5th Gen Echo Dot, which starts at $59.99. Apple’s HomePod Mini is $40 more expensive but adds a humidity sensor as well, and it’s also getting the same Sound Recognition feature that Apple announced for its new 2nd-gen HomePod today. In a software update coming later this Spring, both HomePod models will be able to detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sounds and ping iPhones in the house when necessary.