What smart home products currently support the "Matter" protocol?

**Smart Home Products That Support the Matter Protocol Two Years After Launch**

Two years after its launch, the Matter smart home standard, co-developed by tech giants like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, is finally gaining more attention. Recently, at the Matter Open Day event held in Guangzhou, we observed the increasing participation of domestic smart home manufacturers. Today, let’s take a look at the smart home devices that currently support the Matter protocol.

**Introduction to Matter**

First, Matter is the universal language in the smart home field, aimed at simplifying the purchasing, setup, and user experience of connected devices. With Matter, consumers no longer need to worry whether the smart lock they purchase will work with other smart home products or if their smart bulbs will be compatible with their home’s smart speaker. If a product supports the Matter standard, it should work with any smart home platform or device that also supports Matter.

Matter is a new standard created by major players in the smart home industry, including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung. It is developed and supported by these companies and hundreds of others. Matter is an open connectivity protocol that enables easier, more secure, and reliable communication between IoT devices, allowing manufacturers to build according to one standard while still functioning across various ecosystems.

In other words, if a smart device works with Matter, it can be used with any Matter-compatible platform, including globally recognized ecosystems like Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Home. It can also connect to multiple platforms and be controlled simultaneously within these platforms using iOS, Android devices, or the voice assistant of the user’s choice. Therefore, if a consumer uses an iPhone while their family uses Xiaomi phones, everyone can still control the smart bulbs at home.

Matter works locally via Ethernet and two wireless protocols—Wi-Fi and Thread, a low-power, low-bandwidth mesh network protocol specifically designed for smart home devices. Since it does not require a cloud connection, it can theoretically turn on smart lights as quickly as flipping a light switch. Additionally, Matter enhances security in its standard, significantly reducing cybersecurity risks for smart home devices.

**The Current State of Matter**

After the release of the latest specification (1.3) in May 2024, Matter now supports most types of devices in the smart home. For example, energy management—many users adopt smart homes hoping to reduce household energy consumption. Although we might need some time before seeing widespread adoption, this is an important step for Matter.

However, simply supporting certain categories is not enough. Matter provides more flexible building blocks for smart homes, but as of August 2024, only a few manufacturers have added support for the standard in their devices. Furthermore, while all major platforms support certain types of devices, no single platform supports all device types.

More importantly, almost all cross-platform controls still face many issues, and the actual user experience is not as friendly as expected—not to mention the limitations in functionality. In other words, almost all manufacturers have held something back and haven’t fully embraced the standard, which is understandable as no one wants to do all the work only to benefit their competitors.

Moreover, Matter currently does not support cameras or home security systems. While energy management will be a great addition after implementation, essential devices for energy control, like water heaters and heat pumps, are not yet part of the standard.

Matter's functionality for some device types remains basic. For example, users cannot add PINs to door locks connected via Matter, and the standard does not support dynamic lighting scenes or adaptive lighting for smart lighting systems. Thread border routers continue to cause issues in some smart homes, and Matter’s highly anticipated multi-admin feature, which allows users to control their smart home devices on any platform, remains unstable.

All of this means that Matter is not yet ready to become the primary way to connect all devices in a smart home, and there is still a long way to go before it becomes mainstream. However, if you are keen to start using and seeing some of the promised benefits of your smart home, such as local control, better device security, and the ability to use any smart home platform you prefer, then fully understanding which devices currently support Matter is crucial.

**Device Types Supported by Matter**

As of August 2024, Matter supports the following device types:

**Available Types**

These device types are supported by the Matter specification and are currently supported by some or all Matter-compatible platforms:

- Air purifiers

- Air quality sensors

- Blinds and shades

- Bridges (for bridging other protocols, such as Zigbee)

- Door locks

- Fans

- Light bulbs and light switches (including smart buttons)

- Plugs and outlets

- Robot vacuums

- Room air conditioners

- Safety and security sensors (motion, contact)

- Televisions and media devices

- Thermostats and other HVAC controllers

**Supported but Unavailable Types**

These device types have been added to the Matter specification, but are currently not supported by platforms or have no available products to purchase:

- Refrigerators / Freezers

- Washing machines

- Water management devices—leak and frost detectors, rain sensors, controllable valves

- Smoke and CO alarms

- Microwave ovens

- Dryers

- Dishwashers

- Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment

Currently, Matter supports the basic functions of most device types, meaning users will have the same control experience whether using Apple Home or Amazon Alexa gadgets, and smart home platforms can add additional features on top of Matter. Additionally, users may need to use the manufacturer's app for features not supported by Matter, such as setting dynamic lighting scenes for smart lights, mapping for robot vacuums, and PIN codes for smart locks.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has indicated that its future roadmap includes support for security cameras, garage door controllers, ambient motion and presence sensors, Wi-Fi routers, and access points. They are also committed to developing more features for existing device types. In short, progress must be made step by step, and reaching consensus among so many smart home manufacturers on one matter is already a significant achievement.

**Smart Home Products Supporting the Matter Standard**

According to the standard, Matter-compatible products can be identified by the Matter logo on the packaging and the Matter QR code on the device itself. Of course, there are exceptions, such as existing devices upgraded to Matter through wireless firmware updates and devices that can be added to Matter via proprietary hubs or bridges, such as Philips Hue.

For consumers to use Matter devices, they need a Matter controller and a smart home platform that supports Matter. Currently, almost all major smart home ecosystems have announced support for the Matter protocol. Next, let’s look at some of the devices that support the Matter protocol standard.

**Smart Door Locks**

Currently, all major platforms support smart door locks via Matter, but there are only a few smart lock products on the market that support the standard. This is because most smart locks use Wi-Fi connections, and the Matter specification does not support battery-powered devices connected via Wi-Fi.

For example, Aqara's U100, launched at CES last year, is the first smart lock to support both Matter and Home Key. The lock connects to the Apple Home Hub via Bluetooth or to the Aqara Hub via Zigbee for outdoor control and connection to other smart home platforms, including Google Home and Alexa. With a Matter-supported hub (such as the Aqara M2 Hub), the lock can connect to these platforms.

In addition to Aqara, brands like Yale, SwitchBot, Level Home, and Nuki have also launched smart locks that support the Matter standard.

- Aqara Smart Lock U100 (with Aqara hub)

- Aqara Smart Lock U50 (with Aqara hub)

- Aqara Smart Lock U200 (Thread)

- SwitchBot Lock (with SwitchBot Hub)

- SwitchBot Lock Pro (with SwitchBot Hub)

- Yale Assure Lock SL (with Matter module)

- Nuki 4th gen (Europe only)

**Smart Thermostats and HVAC/Purification Devices**

It’s still unclear why more thermostats do not support Matter today. So far, only the Nest Thermostat (2020) (for common HVAC systems in the U.S.) is available for purchase. However, Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat (4th generation) is expected to launch this month and will support Matter.

Smart thermostat company Ecobee has stated that they are also working on supporting Matter but have not provided a timeline for when their thermostats will support the standard. The company mentioned that the upgrade to support Matter should happen through a wireless update, but no specific details have been released yet.

- Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 (via Aqara hub)

- Google Nest Thermostat

- Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)

- GoveeLife Smart Tower Fan 2 Max

- Midea U-shaped Window Air Conditioner

- SwitchBot Battery-operated Circulator Fan (via SwitchBot Hub)

- Tado X (EU only)

**Air Purifiers**

Air purifiers were supported in the Matter 1.2 release. As of August, only Samsung SmartThings supports this version. This means that while Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa support air purifiers on their platforms, they have not yet supported them through Matter.

- Midea 2-in-1 Purifier Fan

- Welov Air Purifier P200 (AiDot)