The HomePod mini hides some secrets under its mesh-covered exterior.

This is according to a report by Bloomberg and is corroborated by an analysis by teardown expert iFixit. From the looks of it, it would only require a software update to activate the sensors and integrate the mini speaker into a smart home system.

The sensor is only 1.5 millimeters square and is located at the bottom edge of the HomePod mini, right next to the power cable. TechInsights, a company that analyzes electronic components inside, identified this sensor as the HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor.

Because of its proximity to the edge of the speaker, this sensor was most likely designed to monitor the external environment. Sensors can also monitor internal electronics, and many devices have sensors for safety reasons. However, to be effective as an internal sensor on the HomePod mini, the chip would have to be much closer to the center of the HomePod mini, which does not seem likely in this case.

Third-party environmental sensors compatible with Apple's HomeKit already exist, but their inclusion in the HomePod mini would mean a whole new level of convenience. Most people will already have smart speakers and smart home devices connected, and integrating the two types of devices will save money, space, and the hassle of setting everything up correctly.

The idea is to be able to set up your home so that certain smart home devices are turned on or off based on changes in the local environment. For example, it could automatically turn on a fan or air conditioner when the temperature reaches a certain level, or warn you if the humidity gets a little too high.

The fact that this sensor is already built into the HomePod mini means that Apple only needs to make a small update to the speaker's software to activate it. Alternatively, Apple could do nothing and leave it alone. It all depends on whether Apple wants to actually take advantage of this feature in the future.

As long as Apple is Apple, we won't hear about future plans until they actually happen. So we will just have to be patient and see what happens.