Previously, we needed a separate one to control each smart home device application. The light bulbs worked on one system, the blinds on the other, and the thermostat required another program. Thanks to Matter, this is slowly changing.
This time it is not another attempt by one technology giant to attract customers to its website. Matter is a joint initiative of the largest players on the smart home market. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), an organization associating over 500 companies from the industry, is responsible for its creation. They all have one goal: to make a smart home truly smart, not just full of incompatible electronics.
From the light bulb to the entire kitchen
Standard Matter is growing at a breakneck pace. When it debuted in October 2022was able to operate basic equipment – light bulbs, sockets and motion sensors. Soon we could control cleaning robots and garden equipment (Matter 1.1), and soon after that security cameras and audio equipment joined the family (Matter 1.2).
The real breakthrough came in May 2024 with Matter 1.3. This version opened the door to the smart kitchen – ovens, induction hobs and hoods can now communicate with each other and with other devices. Moreover, the standard introduced functions for monitoring energy and water consumption, and even managing the charging of electric cars.
What does Matter mean for the average user?
The simplest way In other words, no more compatibility problems. When purchasing a new device with the Matter logo, we can be sure that it will work with our smart home systemregardless of whether we use Google Home, Apple HomeKit or Amazon Alexa. It's like going from a time when every phone had a different charger to the universal USB-C standard.
The upcoming version of Matter 1.4 focuses on what is most important today – energy savings and ecology. The standard will cover photovoltaic installations, heat pumps and energy storage systems. Additionally, it will integrate home routers, which will improve the stability of the entire system. This is a clear signal that the smart home of the future will be not only comfortable, but also environmentally friendly.
How to use Matter?
When looking for new smart home devices, let's look out for the Matter logo on the packaging. It is also worth checking whether our current equipment has not already received an update adding support for this standard – many manufacturers are actively developing their older products. Let us remember, however, that Matter is still a young technology that will develop and mature.