Matter is the smart home standard that lets devices from different brands work together without a dedicated hub – one protocol that Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa all speak natively as of 2022.
Before Matter, buying a smart plug meant checking a compatibility list and hoping your chosen ecosystem didnt cut support in two years. Matter changes the math: if a device is Matter-certified, it works. Full stop.
TL;DR – The Key Facts
- Matter 1.0 launched October 2022; Matter 1.3 is current (2024)
- Backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and 500+ other companies via the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA)
- Runs over Wi-Fi or Thread (a low-power mesh network)
- Multi-admin: one device can live in Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa simultaneously
- Cameras were excluded until Matter 1.3 – older cameras wont retroactively get support
- Your existing hub or ecosystem app handles Matter automatically if its been updated
How Matter Actually Works
Matter devices connect to your home network one of two ways: Wi-Fi or Thread.
Wi-Fi Matter devices are straightforward – they join your network like any other device and communicate directly with your router. Simple, works with existing infrastructure, slightly higher power draw. Good for plugs, switches, and anything thats already mains-powered.
Thread is more interesting. Its a low-power mesh protocol designed for battery-operated devices like sensors and door locks. Thread devices dont connect to your router directly – they form their own mesh network and communicate through a Border Router.
Whats a Border Router?
A Border Router is a device that bridges the Thread mesh to your IP network. You probably already have one if you own any of these:
- Apple HomePod mini (any generation)
- Apple TV 4K (2nd gen or later)
- Google Nest Hub Max
- Amazon Echo (4th gen)
If youve got one of those sitting in your house, you already have Thread infrastructure. Thread Matter devices will find it automatically.
The practical difference: a Thread sensor can run on a coin battery for a year or more. A Wi-Fi sensor would drain the same battery in weeks. Right protocol, right device.
Multi-Admin – One Device, Multiple Platforms
This is the feature nobody talks about enough. With Matter, a single device can be added to multiple ecosystems at the same time. Not choosing between Apple Home and Google Home – both, simultaneously.
The setup process uses a QR code or numeric code during pairing, and each ecosystem adds the device independently through a process called “multi-admin commissioning.” The device itself tracks which controllers have access to it.
Practically: you add your Matter light to Apple Home for Siri automation and also to Google Home because your partner uses an Android phone. Both work. No bridge, no workarounds, no one person having to change ecosystems.
This is a real shift. Pre-Matter, adding a Zigbee device to Apple Home required a HomeKit-compatible hub like the Hue bridge. The manufacturer had to build and maintain that bridge. Now the protocol handles it directly.
Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave
Matter doesnt kill the older protocols – it just changes when youd choose them. The full breakdown is in our smart home automation protocols guide, but heres the short version.
See also: Z-Wave vs Zigbee vs Wi-Fi for a deeper comparison of the mesh options.
Zigbee
Zigbee has a massive installed base – Philips Hue, IKEA TRADFRI, and hundreds of other devices run it. Those devices arent going anywhere, and Zigbee hubs (Hue Bridge, Aeotec Smart Home Hub, etc.) still work fine. Philips Hue handles the translation by exposing Hue bulbs to Matter through a bridge update – your Hue ecosystem works, and its visible to Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa without any manual pairing per bulb.
If youve already got a Zigbee setup, theres no urgent reason to replace it. The bridge approach works well enough.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is still strong in the smart lock and security sensor space. The Z-Wave Alliance has committed to Matter integration for hub manufacturers, so existing Z-Wave devices will likely get Matter exposure via hub updates rather than device replacements. If youve invested in Z-Wave, that investment isnt stranded.
When Youd Still Choose Zigbee or Z-Wave
- You already have a large Zigbee/Z-Wave setup and dont want to repurchase devices
- You want access to a wider device catalog – Matter-certified devices are still a subset of whats available
- Youre running a serious home automation hub like Home Assistant, which handles all three protocols natively
For new builds or first-time buyers in 2026, Matter is the simpler default. For existing setups, the bridge approach means youre not forced to replace anything.
Which Brands Support Matter (and Which Dont)
The list of Matter-certified devices has grown significantly since 2022. Heres the current landscape:
Active Matter Support
- Philips Hue – via Matter bridge update; all existing Hue bulbs work
- Eve – Thread-based Matter devices, early adopter, strong implementation
- Nanoleaf – Matter on newer panels and light strips
- Aqara – Matter hub exposes Zigbee devices to Matter ecosystems
- IKEA TRADFRI – Matter bridge via DIRIGERA hub
- Meross – plugs and switches with native Matter support
- Yale – Matter on Assure Lock 2 series (requires Matter 1.2+ hub)
- Schlage Encode Plus – one of the first Matter-certified locks; see our Schlage smart lock review for details
Slower or Limited Rollouts
- Kasa (TP-Link) – only newer models support Matter; the large existing catalog of older Kasa plugs and switches does not
- Ring – announced Matter support but rollout has been limited and slow
- Wyze – still no Matter support as of mid-2026; Wyze has consistently deprioritized it
The Camera Problem
Cameras were explicitly excluded from Matter 1.0 and 1.1. Matter 1.3 (2024) finally added a camera spec, but it requires new firmware from manufacturers – and most havent shipped it yet. If youre shopping for a smart camera that works across ecosystems in 2026, check specifically for Matter 1.3 certification on the box. Dont assume.
Smart locks also need Matter 1.2 or later for full functionality (including the access control features). Anything running 1.0 or 1.1 wont support locks properly.
Do You Need to Do Anything?
Mostly no.
If youre running Apple Home, Google Home, or Alexa with hardware from the past few years, your ecosystem already speaks Matter. The updates happened automatically. When you buy a Matter-certified device, you pair it like any other device – the app walks you through it.
The one thing to check: if you want Thread devices, make sure you have a Border Router in your home. If you have a HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, Nest Hub Max, or 4th-gen Echo, youre already set.
If youre running an older ecosystem hub (SmartThings v2, Wink, older Vera), check for firmware updates. Hub manufacturers have been releasing Matter support incrementally – some older hubs got it, some didnt.
For Philips Hue and HomeKit specifically – if youre already using the Hue Bridge with Apple Home, the Matter bridge update is transparent. You dont re-pair anything; it just starts working.
The bottom line: Matter is a background-level infrastructure improvement. Most people wont notice it directly – theyll just buy a light, add it to whatever app they use, and it works. Thats the point.