Key Takeaways
- Matter is an open, royalty-free smart home standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung.
- It allows devices from different brands to communicate without proprietary bridges or hubs.
- Matter runs primarily over Wi-Fi and Thread, using a local network rather than the cloud.
- Existing devices can gain Matter support via software updates if manufacturers choose to add it.
- Matter does not yet cover every device category — cameras, doorbells, and appliances have limited coverage.
What Is Matter?
Matter is an open-source, royalty-free connectivity standard designed to let smart home devices from different manufacturers work together reliably. Overseen by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) — a consortium that includes Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung — Matter was first released in late 2022 after several years of development under its earlier working name, Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP).
Before Matter, the smart home industry was fragmented. Buying a smart bulb from one brand often meant you were locked into that brand's app or hub, and getting devices from different ecosystems to cooperate required complicated workarounds. Matter's core promise is simpler: a device certified as Matter-compatible should work with any Matter-supported platform, right out of the box.
If you're new to connected home technology, our practical starting point for setting up a smart home provides helpful context before diving into standards like Matter.
500+
Matter-certified products available
The Connectivity Standards Alliance reported over 500 Matter-certified products within the first year of the standard's launch.
4
Major platforms with native Matter support
Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings all support Matter natively as of the standard's rollout.
2022
Year Matter specification was released
Matter version 1.0 was officially released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in October 2022 after several years of collaborative development.
How Matter Actually Works
Matter operates at the application layer, meaning it standardizes how devices describe themselves and communicate commands — not the underlying radio technology. Most Matter devices use either Wi-Fi or Thread as their transport layer.
- Wi-Fi connects devices directly to your home router, ideal for higher-bandwidth devices like smart TVs or video-enabled products.
- Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol suited for battery-operated sensors, locks, and bulbs. Thread devices need a Thread Border Router — typically built into a compatible smart speaker or hub — to bridge to the rest of your network.
A key technical feature of Matter is local control. Unlike many older smart home systems that route commands through the manufacturer's cloud servers, Matter devices can be controlled directly on your local network. This means faster response times and functionality that persists even when your internet connection goes down.
Commissioning — the process of adding a new Matter device to your network — uses a QR code or numeric code printed on the device. Scanning it through any Matter-compatible app pairs the device securely and adds it to your chosen ecosystem.
When setting up Matter devices, use the same app you plan to use daily for commissioning — this makes that platform the primary controller and typically yields the smoothest feature integration.
While multi-admin allows multiple platforms to control a device, the commissioning platform often has deeper access to device-specific features and firmware update pathways.
If you rely on Thread-based Matter devices, confirm your home hub or smart speaker has a built-in Thread Border Router before purchasing — not all models do, even within the same product family.
Without a Thread Border Router on the local network, Thread devices cannot communicate with the rest of your Matter ecosystem, rendering them unusable regardless of Matter certification.
Which Devices and Platforms Support Matter
Matter support has expanded significantly since the standard launched. On the platform side, major ecosystems including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings all support Matter. This means a single Matter-certified device can, in principle, be added to any or all of these platforms simultaneously — a feature called multi-admin.
On the device side, Matter currently covers a defined set of product categories:
- Smart lights and switches
- Smart plugs and outlets
- Door locks
- Thermostats and HVAC controls
- Window coverings and blinds
- Sensors (motion, contact, temperature, air quality)
- Robotic vacuums (added in later specification versions)
Some manufacturers have issued over-the-air software updates to add Matter support to existing devices, extending the standard's reach without requiring new hardware purchases. For a deeper look at how platforms connect devices, see our guide on how smart home ecosystems work.
Software Updates Can Add Matter Retroactively
Some devices launched before Matter's release have received or been promised software updates enabling Matter support. This means you may not need to replace existing hardware immediately. Check your device manufacturer's support page or app for update availability and any caveats about which features carry over.
What Matter Means for Consumers
For everyday homeowners, Matter's most meaningful benefit is reduced lock-in. You can purchase a certified device based on its features and price rather than worrying about whether it's compatible with your existing ecosystem. If you switch from an Amazon Alexa household to Apple Home, your Matter devices move with you.
The multi-admin feature is also practical for households where family members use different voice assistants or mobile platforms. One person can control lights through Alexa while another uses Siri — both accessing the same physical device simultaneously.
Local processing offers a reliability benefit many users overlook. Smart home outages caused by cloud server problems are a real frustration; Matter's local-first approach reduces, though does not eliminate, that dependency.
“The goal of Matter is not to replace existing ecosystems, but to create a foundation where every certified device can participate in any of them — removing the single biggest friction point for consumers.”
— Tobin Richardson, President and CEO, Connectivity Standards Alliance
Limitations and What Matter Cannot Yet Do
Despite its promise, Matter is still maturing. Several important limitations are worth understanding before assuming all compatibility problems are solved.
Matter Certification Doesn't Mean Full Feature Parity
A Matter-certified device may not expose all of its features through every platform. Manufacturer-specific capabilities — such as advanced scheduling, energy monitoring detail, or proprietary scenes — often remain exclusive to the brand's own app. Read product documentation carefully to understand which features are available natively through your chosen ecosystem versus the manufacturer's app.
Camera and video doorbells were absent from the initial specification and have only begun to receive Matter support in more recent updates, with implementation varying by manufacturer. Major appliances like washers, refrigerators, and ovens are not yet part of the standard. Irrigation controllers and some niche device types also fall outside current coverage.
Interoperability, while improved, is not always seamless in practice. Firmware quality, platform interpretation of the specification, and feature gaps between ecosystems mean that some advanced features of a device may only work within the manufacturer's own app. Understanding hidden compatibility costs is worth exploring — our article on hidden costs of smart home devices covers related expectations buyers should set.
Additionally, Zigbee and Z-Wave devices — two older but still widely used wireless protocols — are not natively Matter devices. Some hubs can bridge these protocols into a Matter network, but that adds a dependency layer.
Should You Buy Matter-Compatible Devices?
For most consumers building or expanding a smart home, Matter compatibility is a reasonable criterion to factor into purchasing decisions — not because it guarantees a perfect experience today, but because it represents a durable direction for the industry. Devices built to an open standard are less likely to become stranded assets if a manufacturer discontinues its proprietary platform.
Look for the Matter Logo When Shopping
The CSA's Matter certification mark appears on compliant device packaging and product listings. Checking for this logo is the most straightforward way to confirm a device meets the standard before purchasing. Manufacturer claims of 'Matter-ready' or 'Matter-coming-soon' do not carry the same assurance as certified products.
That said, Matter compatibility alone doesn't determine whether a device is the right choice. Evaluate features, build quality, and whether a given product category is well-supported by the current specification. For categories like security cameras that aren't fully covered yet, check whether the manufacturer has published a Matter roadmap.
For a broader foundation, our guide to smart home routines and automations explains how to get the most from your devices once they're connected. And for key terminology, the smart home glossary is a helpful reference for anyone navigating the jargon.
Connectivity Standards Alliance — Matter Overview
The official CSA site provides the definitive specification documentation, a searchable database of certified products, and technical resources for understanding Matter's scope and roadmap.
Smart Home Glossary
A concise reference covering key smart home terms including Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, and more — useful for decoding product listings and documentation.
Thread Group — Thread Protocol Reference
The Thread Group's public resources explain how Thread mesh networking works, which devices act as routers, and how Thread Border Routers connect the mesh to your IP network.