A new HomePod speaker may be coming next week, but current HomePod owners aren’t getting the quiet treatment. Along with iOS 16.3, Apple has pushed HomePod software version 16.3 to all HomePod and HomePod mini devices and includes a lot more than the usual “general performance and stability improvements.”
In fact, since version 14.1, which added Intercom and several new Siri features, the HomePod hasn’t received so many new features in a single update. Most notably, HomePod 16.3 will activate the HomePod mini’s temperature and humidity sensor to measure room climate. The inactive sensor was discovered in the HomePod mini during teardowns, but it took Apple more than two years to fix it.
Additionally, the update contains the following new features:
- Remastered ambient sounds are more immersive and can now be added to scenes, automations, and alarms in the Home app.
- Find My on HomePod now lets you ask Siri for your friends and family’s location, if they’ve shared it with you.
- Recurring home automations can be set up using just your voice.
- The Siri confirmation tone will now sound to indicate when smart home requests are complete for accessories that may not visibly show a change or are located in a different room.
- Audio tuning optimizes spoken content such as podcasts for even more clarity on HomePod (2nd Gen) and HomePod (1st Gen).
- Updated volume controls on HomePod (1st Gen) give you more precise adjustments at lower volumes.
The HomePod update started rolling out on Tuesday, but it could take a while to reach all devices. 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 settingsand finally Software update. If the HomePod 16.3 update is available, tap To update and follow the instructions. Once the update has begun, a spinning white light will appear on top of your HomePod or HomePod mini until the update is complete.
