In early 2022, as the smart home industry buzzed with anticipation, I spent some time and looked pretty closely at Matter – then still largely a theoretical promise – and asked, “Why it matters in 2022” The answer then was clear: it represented the future, a unified standard poised to end the fragmented smart home experience. Now, in mid-2025, with several iterations under its belt and widespread adoption, it’s time to refresh that conversation and reflect on the significant progress, the persistent challenges, and why Matter truly still matters.
From Promise to Protocol: Matter’s Journey
Cast your mind back to January 2022, and Matter was still an upcoming dream, a commitment from giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung to an open-source, unified connectivity protocol. The promise was simple: “If you see the Matter logo on a box, you know it will just work with anything else supporting it.” That vision, while still evolving, has largely come to fruition.
The most significant milestone arrived in October 2022, with the official launch of Matter 1.0. This initial release laid the foundation, supporting core smart home devices like lighting, plugs, switches, door locks, thermostats, blinds, and even TVs.
Since then, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has been on a fast-paced biannual release schedule, steadily expanding the standard’s capabilities:
Matter 1.1 (May 18, 2023): Focused on bug fixes and enhancements, solidifying the initial rollout.
Matter 1.2 (October 23, 2023): Introduced support for nine crucial new device types, including refrigerators, portable air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry washers, robotic vacuum cleaners, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, air quality sensors, air purifiers, and fans. This was a significant step towards a genuinely comprehensive and cohesive smart home.
Matter 1.3 (May 8, 2024): Brought in capabilities for water and energy management devices, alongside a broader range of appliances like ovens, microwave ovens, cooktops, extractor hoods, and laundry dryers. Crucially, it also added “Scenes” and “command-batching,” allowing for more complex automations and simultaneous control of multiple devices.
Matter 1.4 (November 7, 2024): Further deepened its focus on energy, adding support for batteries, solar systems, home routers, water heaters, and heat pumps. It also enhanced support for electric vehicle chargers and significantly improved Thread devices.
Matter 1.4.1 (May 7, 2025): The latest minor update, refining the standard with features like NFC onboarding and multi-device setup, simplifies the initial pairing process.
This rapid evolution demonstrates the industry’s commitment to Matter, addressing initial limitations and broadening its scope to encompass virtually every aspect of the connected home. Security, a foundational pillar since day one, has also seen continuous enhancements, with features like secure onboarding, device attestation, encrypted communication, mandatory over-the-air (OTA) updates, and new capabilities like device revocation to combat cloned or compromised devices.
The Matter Ecosystem: Hubs and Compatibility
One of Matter’s core tenets is its ability to run on existing IP-based networking technologies: Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for initial device commissioning. This multi-protocol approach means that many existing smart home hubs from major players have been, or are being, updated to act as Matter controllers and Thread Border Routers.
- Google: Has significantly expanded its Matter ecosystem. Many Google Nest displays and speakers have been updated to work with Matter, with newer devices acting as Matter hubs and Thread Border Routers. The Google Home runtime is now integrated into over 40 million devices, including Nest devices, Chromecasts, Google TV devices on Android 14, and eligible LG TVs, enabling broader Matter connectivity and local control. Google has also partnered with MediaTek on the new Trinity chip, which includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread, simplifying device development.
- Apple: Continues to integrate Matter deeply within its ecosystem. iOS 15 onwards supports Matter, allowing the existing Apple Home app to serve as a central control point. Devices like the HomePod Mini function as Matter controllers and Thread Border Routers. While there are rumours of a new Apple smart home hub with a display expected by the end of 2025, their current offerings already provide robust Matter support.
- Amazon: Has rolled out Matter compatibility across its Echo (4th Gen) and Echo Show devices. Amazon’s commitment extends to providing developer tools that facilitate Matter integration, particularly via the Thread protocol, ensuring a seamless experience for Alexa users.
- Samsung: The SmartThings platform, including its various hubs, has been upgraded to support Matter. Samsung has also integrated SmartThings hubs into other devices, further expanding its Matter-compatible footprint.
- Other Players: Brands like Aqara have made substantial strides with Matter. Their Aqara Hub M3 is a standout, supporting Zigbee 3.0, Thread, and Matter protocols, and acting as a Matter bridge to bring existing Aqara Zigbee devices into the Matter ecosystem. It emphasises local control and supports Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. Other Aqara devices like the Camera Hub G5 Pro also integrate Matter. Zemismart offers Matter Zigbee Thread Smart Home Hubs, bridging Tuya Zigbee and Thread devices to Matter-certified systems.
Crucially, Home Assistant, the powerhouse open-source home automation platform, stands out for its universal capabilities. With the right hardware (typically a Thread radio or access to a Thread Border Router), Home Assistant can act as a Matter controller, integrating devices seamlessly. Its open-source nature means it offers unparalleled flexibility for creating intricate routines, complex automations, and deep integrations across a vast array of devices, far beyond what proprietary hubs might offer. Home Assistant’s ability to pull together disparate systems and control Matter devices with granular precision makes it a compelling choice for those seeking the most customisable and universally capable smart home hub.
This growing list of compatible hubs and devices reinforces Matter’s promise of increased interoperability, allowing consumers to mix and match products from different manufacturers without fear of incompatibility.
The Nuances of Connectivity: Protocols and Pitfalls
While Matter acts as the unifying application layer, it relies on underlying network protocols like Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet. Each has its strengths and, inevitably, its limitations:
- Wi-Fi: Excellent for high-bandwidth devices such as security cameras or streaming devices, leveraging existing home network infrastructure. However, its higher power consumption makes it less ideal for battery-powered sensors or devices that need to run for extended periods without charging. A smart home heavily reliant on Wi-Fi can also strain a router or cause some significant network problems, like congestion or latency, if not correctly managed. Having at minimum Wi-Fi 6, preferably Wi-Fi 7 with the 2.4GHz and 5GHz separated — some devices won’t connect to 5GHz — and give your IoT devices their own network to improve reliability and security.
- Thread: This low-power mesh networking protocol is a game-changer for battery-powered devices like sensors, smart locks, and light switches. Thread devices form a self-healing mesh network, extending range and improving reliability. While Thread’s “growing pains” were noted in early 2024, particularly around how different Matter ecosystems share Thread network credentials, Matter 1.4 has introduced significant improvements in this area, aiming for smoother Multi-Admin experiences and better interoperability between Thread Border Routers from different brands. Despite these advancements, ensuring stable communication across multiple Thread Border Routers from various manufacturers can still present minor challenges.
- Ethernet: Provides the most stable and highest-bandwidth connection, making it ideal for Matter controllers, border routers, and high-performance devices. The primary “downfall” is the need for physical cabling, which isn’t always practical for every smart device in a home.
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Matter leverages BLE primarily for the initial commissioning process, allowing for easy device setup via a smartphone. It’s not designed for the ongoing communication of a full smart home network due to its limited range and lower data throughput compared to Wi-Fi or Thread.
One of the ongoing challenges for Matter, particularly in its earlier versions, was the “basic controls” offered for certain device types. For instance, a Matter-compatible thermostat might allow basic temperature setting but lack deeper features like advanced scheduling or specific fan modes that a manufacturer’s proprietary app might offer. However, with each new Matter version, the standard expands its device type support and the depth of control, steadily closing this gap. The vision is for Matter to eventually encompass a rich set of features for all supported devices, reducing the reliance on multiple vendor-specific apps.
The Road Ahead: Why Matter Still Matters
The journey of Matter from a promising concept to a tangible standard has been remarkable. It has undeniably simplified the smart home landscape, moving away from the “Works with X,” “Works with Y,” and “Works with Z” fragmentation towards a more unified “Works with Matter.” This has benefited consumers by increasing choice and simplifying purchasing decisions, while also reducing development overhead for manufacturers.
While perfect interoperability and a complete feature set for every device type remain the ultimate goal, the progress since early 2022 has been monumental. The continuous updates, the growing list of compatible hubs and devices, and the industry-wide commitment to its success demonstrate that Matter isn’t just a trend; it’s the foundation for the future of the truly interoperable smart home. You don’t need to do anything drastic with your existing setup immediately, but know this: Matter is here to stay, and it’s making our smart homes smarter, simpler, and more cohesive with every passing day. The biggest winners, as always, are us, the consumers.
All of this has me thinking: Perhaps it’s time to revisit my smart home setup and rebuild it to be even smarter, and more useful in my daily life.
