What is Matter? - How it affects our smart homes
As satisfying and comfortable as it can be with a smart home, it can be frustrating and expensive. At the same rate as technology has developed, consumer products have been introduced. This has meant that we have many different protocols, standards and ecosystems.
Now many of the big tech giants (Amazon, Apple, Samsung, Google, etc.) have joined forces to jointly develop a new standard, Matter. With some delays behind us, we will still see the first products on the market with support for Matter this year, 2022.
What is Matter?
Matter (formerly known as CHIP, Connected Home Over IP) is a smart home standard designed to make it easier to connect and use smart home products. Matter is not a protocol like Z-Wave, ZigBee or Wifi. Nor is it a platform like Google Home, HomeKit or Alexa. Nor anything that automates your home.
Matter provides the approach our smart home products use to speak to each other.
What does it look like today?
One of the biggest problems with smart homes is that there are far too many standards in the market competing against each other. None of them work really well either. They are all good in their own way, but none of them have managed to convince the market to default. The risk of introducing a new standard is that it adds further to an already complex system. But now it looks like Matter will actually simplify the process for us users.
How does Matter affect me and my smart home?
It's allegedly as easy as buying a gadget regardless of manufacturer, plugging it in with power/battery, adding it to your system at the touch of a button and it should work.
Some existing devices will receive software updates to become compatible with Matter. This then applies to hubs such as Philips Hue and Homey. The devices connected to the hub will operate as normal and continue to use their own standards such as ZigBee and Z-Wave.
Products that communicate with your smart home directly without going through a hub will need to be updated. Whether this is possible and provided by the manufacturer will depend on a case by case basis. There must also be enough flash memory and processing power on the device to make an update. At the moment, it is difficult to say which products this will apply to.
What are the benefits of Matter?
In addition to the obvious advantage of making it easier for us users, Matter uses IP numbers, just like the internet does. The advantage of this is that over time we will become less dependent on our hubs that are otherwise required to communicate with our devices. However, this depends on how your system at home looks. Another advantage is that your smart home will work even if you lose internet because all devices communicate locally.
Remember that devices will still need to communicate with the internet to update their software and to be checked by you when you are not at home. This communication must take place via a Matter compatible device such as a mobile, smart speaker or hub.
Thank you and goodbye to apps. We will no longer need to install an app for each brand to control our products.
Security will increase as new mechanisms will be able to prevent a hacker from installing malware via fake updates e.g. You should not be able to see which devices are on your network or what they are communicating with. The security risk with IoT products has always been high, but with Matter it should be significantly better.
It will also make it easier for developers to develop products supported by Matter.
What are the disadvantages of Matter?
When something sounds this good, ask yourself if it's too good to be true. Some are worried about what will happen to small businesses. Market fragmentation may increase and there is a risk that small companies will not have time.
“Matters is creating connections between more objects, simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers”
Which platforms will work with Matter?
The big companies that are involved in developing Matter will definitely work. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit and Samsung Smartthings. You will be able to use their apps, smart speakers etc to control your devices.
With Matters Multi-Admin control, you will be able to connect Matter-compatible devices to multiple platforms. This will allow you to choose your preferred voice assistant in a family.
To see which devices are certified with Matter, you can read more here.
What is a Border Router and What is a Matter Controller?
A border router is a device that acts as a bridge between the Matter network and your home network. It is a necessary part because it allows Matter devices, which can use the Thread protocol for communication, to connect to the Internet and other networks. The nifty thing about a border router is that it doesn't have to be a classic hub that just takes up space in your home but it can be any device that has access to constant power and wifi. Thus, there are both cameras and smart-plugs that can act as border routers.
A Matter controller is a device that does not necessarily have to be a Thread border router e.g. HomePod Gen 1. However, this requires you to have a Thread border router if you are going to connect a Thread device.
If you plan to use Matter-compatible devices in your home, especially those that use Thread for communication, you'll need a border router to integrate these devices into your existing network. Some modern smart home hubs and routers can already act as border routers for Matter. It is worth checking if your existing equipment supports this.
There are still many question marks around Matter's way of dealing with border routers and Matter controllers and how these communicate. It remains to be seen how the big tech giants will get along and solve all the remaining problems.
Here are some existing devices that today can act as border router:
Apple
- Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet (2022)
- Apple TV 4K (2021)
- Apple HomePod (2nd gen)
- Apple HomePod Mini
Google Home
- Google Nest Wifi Pro
- Google Nest Wifi Router/Point
- Nest Hub (2 gen)
- Nest Hub Max
Samsung SmartThings
- Aeotec SmartThings Smart Home Hub
- Samsung SmartThings Station
- Samsung SmartThings Hub Dongle
- Samsung SmartThings Hub v3
- Samsung Smart TVs CU8000, CU7000 (2023)
- Samsung MicroLED TV MNA89MS1BA (2023)
- Samsung Smart Monitor M80C (2023)
- Samsung Soundbar HW-Q990C (2023)
- Samsung NEO QLED 8k and 4K (2023)
Amazonas
- Echo (4 gen)
- Eero Pro 6E, Pro 6, 6 Plus, 6, PoE 6, and PoE Gateway
- Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)
- Eero Max 7
Other platforms
- Homey Pro
- Nabu Casa Home Assistant Yellow
- Home Assistant (Sky Connect dongle)
- Comcast XFi Advanced Gateway
- Hubitat Elevation Model C-8 hub
Upcoming Matter controls with Thread border router
- Echo Hub
- HOOBS Pro (Thread/Matter 2023)
- Samsung Family Hub refrigerator (2024)
- Aqara Hub M3 (Coming 2024)
Here you will find a list of what the various companies have promised:
Amazonas
Amazon Eco 4th gen is getting support and will work as a border router. A border router allows Matter to control e.g. Thread devices. Amazon Echos with ZigBee — Echo Studio, Echo Show 10, and Echo Plus — all have the same antenna as the Echo 4th gen so these will probably also go update to a border router.
Google Nest
Google has also confirmed that all Nest speakers, screens and routers will update to Matter. They also say their goal is for as many devices as possible to become compatible with Matter.
Apple HomeKit
HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K 2nd gen will serve as border router and get support for Matter. Apple has also announced that their Home app will be compatible.
In the new Apple TV 4K, only the model with 128GB and ethernet will have Thread.
“We believe all smart home accessories should work together to provide the most choice and interoperability for customers without compromising security and privacy”
- Jacqueline Roy, Apple
Samsung SmartThings
Samsung SmartThings became the first company to become certified for Matter on October 12, 2022.
“We're very excited about the future and utilizing Matter as a central thought for us around what the future smart home looks like”
- Samantha Fein, SmartThings
Dial
Ring has not gone out with any official endorsement of Matter. Initially, surveillance cameras will not be included in Matter.
Homey
Homey presented its new version of Homey Pro on 12 October 2022. According to the presentation, it will receive support for Matter Q2 2023 and Thread Q3 2023.
Matters 1.0
Matter has been launched in its first version 1.0 on October 4, 2022. Thus, from this date we can expect compatible products on the market. This first version established the foundation of the Matter protocol, focusing on unifying smart home devices across diverse ecosystems by using IP technologies such as Wi-Fi and Thread.
Matters 1.1
This release focused on improvements for developers and device manufacturers, making it easier to get started with Matter and certify products. It was particularly beneficial for battery-powered devices, often used in smart homes, such as sensors and door locks. Improvements in test automation and the certification process were also prominent parts of this release.
Materia 1.2
Lwas gazetted on 23 October 2023 and brought with it significant expansions in device types and features. New device types included appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines, robotic vacuum cleaners, air quality sensors, air purifiers, smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, and fan control. Improvements in this release also focused on improving interoperability and user experience, including features such as lock & bolt door locks for European markets, descriptions of device appearance, and more complex device and endpoint assemblies.
Glossary
Matters - A new standard for smart homes
Thread - A wireless protocol that products use to communicate
Wifi - Another wireless protocol used in most homes
ZigBee - A wireless protocol specially developed for smart home devices
Z-wave - Another wireless protocol specially developed for smart home devices
Border Router - A device with support for Matter that acts as the hub for your devices with Matter
CHIP - The name Matter used first (Connected Home Over IP)
HomeKit - The name of Apple's smart home system
Alexa - The name of Amazon's voice assistant
CSA - Connectivity Standards Alliance
Frequently Asked Questions about Matter
What is Matter and how does it differ from other smart home standards?
Matter, formerly known as Project CHIP, is an open and standardized smart home protocol that aims to create unified communication between different smart devices regardless of brand.
What are the benefits of Matter for my smart home?
Matter enables easy and secure interoperability between different smart devices, giving you a wider range of compatible products and a more seamless user experience.
Do older smart home devices work with Matter?
To be compatible with Matter, specific technical requirements are required. Some older devices may receive support through firmware updates, while other older devices may not be compatible.
When is Matter technology expected to be available to consumers?
Matter certified products are expected to be available to consumers in 2022, first launch of Matter 1.0 came on October 4, 2022
How does Matter affect my smart home network and internet connection?
Matter uses wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet to create a robust and reliable smart home network, which should not affect your overall internet connection.
