The guys iFixit they are the pear. As soon as a new electronic device comes on the market, they get one (or several) and do not hesitate to put the screwdriver in it and gut it piece by piece, to see how they are built, and what components they have inside.
And it seems that in the disassembly of the home pod mini, have discovered two curious components. A temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. A great find considering that Apple does not use them in any application nor is their reading data available for other third-party applications to use. Most likely they will be activated in a future device firmware update.
Bloomberg just published a report explaining that iFixit technicians have discovered that Apple's HomePod mini includes a hidden sensor that measures the temperature and moisture, offering a series of data that could arrive in a future update of the device's software.
Apple typically releases major HomePod software updates at autumn. It is not clear if in the next update, the company will activate the temperature sensor, but its presence in the HomePod minis that have already been sold suggests that it is only a matter of time before they start working.
If Apple decides to enable the sensor on the HomePod mini, it could pave the way for a more integrated smart home strategy for HomeKit, Apple's system that controls thermostats, lights, locks, sockets and other devices in the home.
As the report points out, it could also help Apple's HomeKit rival similar features already offered by the competition. The latest speakers Echo Amazon's include temperature sensors, while Google sells sensors under its Nest brand that can be placed in different locations around the home and connected to your thermostats to adjust the temperature of each room.