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The Apple HomePod 2 has now landed for anyone who needs a powerful, iPhone-friendly smart speaker. But Apple’s new wireless marvel has also provided some treats for its smaller sibling; the HomePod mini.
Thanks to a software update coming soon, the HomePod mini (opens in new tab) will see some hitherto untapped smart home talent unlocked. One of the Apple HomePod 2’s biggest new features is some built-in temperature and humidity sensors, which the company says can prompt the speaker to automatically close blinds or turn on smart fans.
But in Apple’s official HomePod comparison page (opens in new tab), it also mentions that the HomePod mini has the exact same sensors, despite the fact that they were never officially promoted as a feature. That’s about to change thanks to Apple’s upcoming software update.
A iFixit teardown (opens in new tab) of the Homepod mini revealed that the speaker does indeed have the sensors made by Texas Instruments for measuring humidity and temperature. As reported Bloomberg (opens in new tab) in 2021, the speaker’s smart home potential has never been exploited – until now.
With the HomePod 2 delivering the exact same features Apple discussed internally around its little brother’s launch, Apple will now update the HomePod mini to work in line with its new wireless speaker.
While the HomePod 2 still has some of the same musical inflexibility as its predecessor, including a lack of audio streaming options for Android phones, Apple has been crowing about its smart home potential. Those new sensors let you monitor the temperature and humidity in a room, but the more compelling potential is using them to automate aspects of your smart home.
It’s not yet clear if the software update will come as part of the iOS 16.3 release rumors coming next week (opens in new tab)but Homepod mini owners won’t have to wait long to try out the new features.
Analysis: rebuilding the smart home
Apple’s support for the new Matter standard shows it’s reinvigorating a truly immersive, rather than a frustratingly fragmented, smart home experience. And the two smart speakers, the HomePod 2 and HomePod mini, are an important part of that plan.
The good news for HomePod mini owners is that, despite launching more than two years ago, the speaker secretly houses a number of smart home talents that will soon be unlocked. Matter is built into Apple’s iOS 16, so you can already use a HomePod mini as a Matter smart home controller.
And those temperature and humidity sensors will finally get some use, thanks to the arrival of the HomePod 2. The current proposed use cases, such as making automations for fans or blinds, aren’t exactly earth-shattering, and you’ll still need to own one some compatible smart devices to make use of it.
But they do hint at a long-promised smart home experience that’s both hands-free and works in the background to both control your home and help lower bills.
Maybe it’s time to start looking for some of the best smart home devices.