As we approach the middle of 2023, the development of the new Matter smart home standard is progressing steadily. Matter was introduced over six months ago and now offers a range of devices that are available for purchase, which is a significant achievement for a new standard. Most major platforms have already rolled out support for Matter, with the exception of Amazon, which only supports a limited number of device types at the moment. However, there are some disappointments with Matter. Since its launch, there haven’t been any new device types introduced, so the selection is still primarily limited to plugs, lights, and shades. Although there have been some smart locks added recently. Additionally, the cross-ecosystem support, which is a crucial aspect of Matter’s promise, is still inconsistent at best. But as those involved in the development of Matter have emphasized, transforming the infrastructure of the smart home is not a quick fix and requires a gradual process. In order to keep track of all the devices that are compatible with Matter, you can refer to our list here. If you’re interested in getting started with the new universal language for smart home devices, read on.
In case you’re not familiar with Matter, here’s a brief overview: Matter is a new standard that has been developed by major players in the smart home industry, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and others. Its purpose is to simplify the smart home experience, making it easier to purchase, set up, and use products. The primary goal of Matter is to enable seamless compatibility between connected devices across different platforms and ecosystems, eliminating the need to check if a device is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Home when making a purchase. With Matter, you can control your smart lighting, locks, and more using any Matter-certified platform on iOS or Android devices, as well as your preferred voice assistant. This means that if you and your roommate have different smartphones, you can both control your smart home devices regardless of the device you’re using. For more detailed information on how Matter works with each smart home platform, what you need to get started, and how it functions, you can refer to our explainer article titled “What Matters about Matter.” In this article, we have provided a categorized list of Matter-compatible products, specifying whether they are currently available for purchase or coming soon. We will continue to update this list as new information becomes available.
Device Types Supported by Matter:
– Light bulbs and light switches
– Plugs and outlets
– Locks
– Thermostats and other HVAC controllers
– Blinds and shades
– Sensors (motion, contact)
– Media devices
– Wireless access points
– Bridges
Home appliances, robot vacuums, and several other device types were expected to be added in the first update (Matter 1.1), but unfortunately, no new device types were introduced with the release of Matter 1.1 in May. The Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organization behind Matter, has confirmed that these device types are on the roadmap but hasn’t provided specific details regarding their release timelines. The planned device types include home security cameras, robot vacuums, home appliances, home routers and access points, garage door controller sensors, indoor air quality monitors and air purifiers, smoke and CO detectors, energy management features, water management features, EV charging, ambient motion and presence sensing, and televisions and streaming video players.
Matter Controllers, Thread Border Routers, Bridges, and Wi-Fi Routers:
– A Matter controller serves as the central device that connects and manages Matter devices in your home network. It requires a constant power source and a Wi-Fi or ethernet connection to your home network. A smartphone cannot be used as a Matter controller. Each smart home platform requires its own Matter controller, such as an Apple HomePod or Apple TV for Apple Home, a Google Nest Hub for Google Home, or an Amazon device for Alexa. These controllers also serve as Thread border routers if you have any Thread devices in your home. Amazon’s Matter controllers currently support only plugs, switches, and sensors, but they plan to add thermostat and lock support soon, followed by support for more device categories in the coming months.
Matter Controllers with Thread Border Routers:
– New Samsung TVs, monitors, and smart fridges (starting in 2023)
Matter Controllers without Thread:
– Apple HomePod (first-gen)
– Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi (2022 version)
– Amazon Echo smart speakers (third-gen and newer)
– Google Nest Audio, Nest Mini, and Nest Hub (first-gen)
Upcoming Matter Controllers in 2023:
– Various other devices that will act as Matter controllers and Thread border routers
Matter-Enabled Smart Home Apps:
– Matter devices can be added to a smart home ecosystem using the respective platform’s smartphone or tablet app, which serves as a Matter commissioner. These apps allow you to connect, control, set up automations and routines for Matter devices. Matter integration is also built into the latest versions of Android and Apple’s operating systems, enabling apps to utilize the necessary local infrastructure required by Matter.
Smart Home Apps that Support Matter:
– Apple Home app (iOS 16.1 or newer)
– Samsung SmartThings app (Android / iOS)
– Google Home app (Android / iOS)
– Amazon Alexa app (Android / iOS)
– Home Assistant
– Eve app (iOS, coming to Android in spring 2023)
– Aqara app
– SwitchBot app
– TP-Link Tapo app
– Tuya Smart Life app
– Wiser app
Bridges that Support Matter:
– Smart home devices that use bridges, such as Philips Hue smart bulbs, can be integrated into Matter. This allows their connected devices to be controlled through a Matter smart home platform. As of now, only Apple Home fully supports Matter bridges, but Google is working with its partners to add bridging support. Amazon and SmartThings have confirmed that bridge support is not yet available but will be enabled in the future. Please note that even if you have a bridge that has been updated to support Matter, the connected devices will not work with Matter until the platform you’re using adds support for bridges.
Bridges that will Support Matter:
– Philips Hue Bridge (except Hue sync box and Tap Dial switch)
– Aqara Hub M1S / M1S Gen 2
– Aqara Hub M3
– Aqara Hub E1
– Aqara Camera Hub G3
– Aqara Camera Hub G2H Pro
– Bosch Smart Home Controller
– Ikea Dirigera hub
– TP-Link Homebase Tapo H900
– Schneider Electric Wiser Gateway
Wi-Fi Routers that will Support Thread and Matter:
– Matter and Thread-enabled Wi-Fi routers eliminate the need for additional Matter controllers in your home, as long as they are compatible with the platform you want to use. Amazon’s Eero 6 series devices will support Matter soon, while Google routers already support Thread and Matter.
By referring to this information, you can gain a better understanding of the Matter standard, the devices it supports, and how to integrate them into your smart home setup.
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