The recent 16.3 update has introduced various new capabilities for the HomePod and HomePod mini, including a temperature sensor for the HomePod mini.
Existing HomePod and HomePod mini owners have received a substantial update with the release of HomePod software version 16.3. This update offers more than just standard performance enhancements, as it includes a range of new features not seen since version 14.1. The most noteworthy addition is the activation of the temperature and humidity sensor in the HomePod mini, allowing for accurate measurement of the room's climate. The sensor had previously been discovered in teardowns, but it took over two years for Apple to utilize it. Despite rumors of a new HomePod speaker, current owners are not being left behind with this substantial software update.
The HomePod 16.3 update has introduced several new features, including:
- More immersive ambient sounds that can be added to scenes, automations, and alarms in the Home app.
- Find My integration, allowing you to ask Siri for the location of friends and family who have shared it with you.
- Ability to set up recurring automations using only voice commands.
- A Siri confirmation tone to indicate when smart home requests have been completed, even for accessories that don't show a visual change or are located in another room.
- Improved audio tuning for better clarity on spoken content such as podcasts for the 2nd generation HomePod and 1st generation HomePod.
- More precise volume controls at lower volumes on the 1st generation HomePod.
To update your HomePod, go to the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, then Home Settings, and finally Software Update. If the update is available, tap Update and follow the prompts. A white spinning light will appear on the top of your HomePod or HomePod mini during the update process. Note that it may take some time for the update to reach all devices.