HomePod mini has unused temperature sensor


Environmental sensors have been discovered within Apple's HomePod mini. The sensors are believed to measure room temperature and humidity. To date, the sensors are not available for customer's use.

Bloomberg:

The Cupertino, 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.

The sensors likely add to device costs. While this could be the result of a last-minute change, it would be unusual for Apple to include unnecessary components. It's reasonable to speculate that Apple is future-proofing HomePods for yet-to-be-announced features.