Matter products are coming — here’s everything that’s been announced
The VergeAll the Matter-compatible devices you can buy now, plus what’s coming soon to the new Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung-backed smart home standard. Continue reading…
The new Matter smart home standard is finally ramping up, with a number of compatible products available now and many slated to be released in the next few months. We’re keeping tabs on what will work with Matter, the new common language for smart home devices designed to simplify the smart home and make it easier to buy, set up, and use products.
Matter should also help connected gadgets work with each other across platforms and ecosystems, so you won’t have to pick between Amazon Alexa, Apple, and Google when adding smart devices to your home. With Matter, you will be able to control your smart lighting, smart locks, and more simultaneously with any Matter-compatible platform using iOS or Android devices. So, if you have an iPhone and your roommate has a Google Pixel, you can both control all of your smart home devices.
For more details on how Matter will work with each smart home platform, what you will need to get started with Matter, and how Matter actually works, read my explainer, “What Matters about Matter.”
Here, you’ll find a list of Matter-compatible products divided into categories and separated by whether you can buy them now or if they are coming soon. We’ll keep this updated as new information comes out.
Device types that work with Matter in 2023
The Matter standard provides a common language and a set of supported actions for smart home devices. Right now, it only supports a few categories of devices, and only certain features are available for each of those categories — although, depending on which platform you run them on, you may have access to more features on top of the Matter integration.
As of January 2023, the following device categories are supported in Matter: light bulbs and light switches; plugs and outlets; locks; thermostats and other HVAC controllers; blinds and shades; sensors (motion, contact); televisions and streaming video players; wireless access points; and bridges (more on this later).
Home appliances (such as fridges and washing machines) and robot vacuums should be included in a spring 2023 Matter update. Home security cameras, garage door controller sensors, indoor air quality monitors and air purifiers, and smoke and CO detectors are next on the roadmap, according to the CSA, which runs the Matter standard. Also in the works are energy management features and support for ambient motion and presence sensing.
Photo by Jennifer Tuohy / The Verge
Matter controllers, Thread border routers, bridges, and Wi-Fi routers
A Matter controller onboards Matter devices to your home network, controls them, manages communications and automations, and facilitates remote access (when enabled). A Matter controller needs to be a device that is always in your home, always powered, and has a Wi-Fi or ethernet connection to your home network.
You’ll need a Matter controller for each smart home platform you plan to use in your home, and every major smart home platform has updated many of its existing smart home controllers with Matter support. Some controllers are also Thread border routers, which you will need if you add any Thread devices to your home. Thread is one of the main wireless protocols Matter can run over.
Matter controllers with Thread border routers
Apple Home
Google Home
Samsung SmartThings
Upcoming Matter controllers with Thread border routers
Apple Home
Samsung SmartThings
Other platforms
Matter controllers without Thread
Apple Home
Amazon Alexa
Google Home
Samsung SmartThings
Other platforms
New Matter controllers coming in 2023
Samsung SmartThings
Other platforms
Matter-enabled smart home apps
To add Matter devices to a smart home ecosystem, you’ll need to use that platform’s smartphone or tablet app. The following smart home apps work with Matter. You can use them to add and control devices as well as set up automations and routines. Matter is also built into the latest versions of Android and Apple’s operating systems, enabling apps to access the local infrastructure required by Matter.
Matter updates coming to smart home apps
*Tuya Smart is an IoT development platform service provider that supports over 446,000 developers with schematics for over 1,100 smart home products, from robot vacuums to smart lights. It already has Matter certification for a number of light bulbs and smart plugs as well as a Matter controller. Brands that use Tuya include Teckin, Gosund, Nooie, Lidl, and Iotty.
Image: Philips Hue
Bridges that will support Matter
Smart home devices that use a bridge, such as Philips Hue smart bulbs, can be “bridged” into Matter so that their connected devices can be controlled in a Matter smart home platform.
As of January 2023, only Apple Home supports Matter bridges. Google, Amazon, and SmartThings confirmed to The Verge this week that bridge support isn’t live yet on their controllers but that they do plan to enable it. So, even if you have a bridge that’s been updated to Matter, the devices connected to it won’t work in Matter until the platform you are using supports bridges. Currently, however, there are no bridges that support Matter without using beta software.
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Wi-Fi routers that will support Thread and Matter
If you have a Matter and Thread-enabled Wi-Fi router, you wouldn’t need any other Matter controller in your home. Amazon (which owns Eero) has said Matter-over-Thread capability will be turned on in its compatible Eero devices this spring. Google routers are already Thread-enabled and work with Matter.
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Smart devices that will work with Matter
Most companies that have announced Matter devices say they will start shipping in early 2023. New products that are compatible with Matter should have the Matter logo on them (it looks a bit like a stick person wearing bikini bottoms). Many manufacturers are adding Matter support to existing devices with over-the-air firmware updates. Below are the products that either currently support Matter or will in the future, according to the companies.
Smart lights
As of January 25th, 2023, there are no smart light bulbs with Matter support enabled. These are the products with updates to Matter scheduled:
Matter updates coming in 2023
New Matter lights coming 2023
Smart switches
As of January 25th, 2023, there are no smart switches with Matter support enabled.
Matter updates coming in 2023
New Matter smart switches coming 2023
Smart plugs
Currently available
New Matter plugs coming 2023
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Smart home sensors
Currently available Matter sensors
Smart home sensors with Matter updates coming
New Matter smart home sensors coming 2023
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Smart door locks
As of January 25th, 2023, there are no smart locks with Matter support enabled.
Smart door locks with Matter updates coming in 2023
New Matter door locks coming in 2023
Smart thermostats and heating equipment
As of January 25th, 2023, there are no smart thermostats with Matter support enabled.
Matter updates coming in 2023
Home appliances / televisions
As of late January 2023, there are no home appliances or televisions that work as Matter devices (some Samsung refrigerators and TVs are Matter controllers, see above). Several manufacturers have promised Matter support in some upcoming and existing products.
Appliances and TVs with upcoming Matter support
Smart shades, blinds, and shutters
Smart window treatments with upcoming Matter support
Other devices that will work with Matter
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
How to add Matter devices to your smart home
Matter uses numeric and QR setup codes and Bluetooth Low Energy to add a device to your network. Open your smart home platform or device maker’s app, scan the QR code or manually enter the numeric code written on the device, and follow the prompts.
NFC pairing will be an option for some devices, letting you tap the device with your phone. And some platforms will support auto-detection, so your phone will just see there is a device ready to be paired and prompt you to add it.
Once your device is set up in one platform, you can add it to other apps and platforms using Matter’s multi-admin feature. The process of sharing is similar to onboarding, but you don’t have to have the device in hand, as the app creates a pairing code for you. Once paired to another platform, you can now control that device from both platforms simultaneously.