2024: The Year Smart Home Interoperability Began to Matter
Was 2024 the "Year of Matter?" Not quite, but it certainly made some headway, becoming more important to smart home manufacturers. Its anonymity continues to be a problem as we move into 2025, however.
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Around 18 months ago I became aware of something new in the smart home arena. Matter, introduced a few months before by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, was ostensibly a replacement for every smart home system currently in use.
Of course, that’s not quite the full story, but by the time I joined Matter Alpha, it became evident that Matter had some potential to change how we use smart home equipment for the better. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen Matter develop from something that might be a solution to poor smart home interoperability to a platform that is likely the best solution to compatibility problems in the smart home.
Unsurprisingly, Matter has been the subject of hype and anticipation, some from the CSA, some via PR agencies working for smart home gear manufacturers, and some from tech blogs. But while the hype has been overstated in almost every case, Matter did make an impact in 2024.
Key Matter Developments in 2024
Matter certainly began to build momentum in 2024. Thanks to two new specifications (Matter 1.3 in Spring, Matter 1.4 in Autumn), the number and variety of Matter-certified devices increased as 2024 progressed.
Among these, Matter-compatible thermostats, lights, and locks were among the most common releases, alongside Matter hubs and bridges. Other items were released in 2023 and 2024 with support for Matter, relying on a firmware update for Matter integration to be added – our review of the IKEA Dirigera Matter bridge would not have been possible without such an update.
IKEA added several Matter-compatible devices to its range, while major smart home platforms progressed at varying speeds. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings all support Matter, although integration differs slightly. For example, SmartThings cannot handle older robot cleaners, with or without Matter, whereas Google Home can. Generally speaking, however, the platforms are all straightforward to use, with simple onboarding of new smart home devices.
Matter 1.3’s releases in Spring 2024 is perhaps more significant than the Matter 1.4 specification, as it feeds directly into the devices we’ll see in the first half of 2025. The delay between specification and implementation in customer-owned devices is one of the key issues for anyone paying close attention to Matter, something that doesn’t seem to show any sign of improving during the next year.
It does mean, however, that devices unveiled at CES 2025 (certainly those planned for release in Q1 and Q2) are likely to be built on the Matter 1.3 specification. This brought kitchen appliances, EV chargers, energy management, water management hardware, and laundry devices to the specification, along with new features to existing hardware.
Behind the Scenes: Matter in the Smart Home Industry
One of the most interesting insights into the world of the CSA and its partners in the smart home industry occurred at IFA Berlin 2024. The CSA’s Tobin Richardson and the Wi-Fi Alliances’ Kevin Robinson got together for a (admittedly softball) discussion about Matter’s evolution, with both CEOs agreeing that agree that Matter is a significant step towards universal interoperability in the smart home.
As demonstrated here, considerable collaboration between smart home hardware manufacturers is required. The development of the Wi-Fi standard is a good comparison here.
Of course, the Connectivity Standards Alliance comprises various big hitters (Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, etc.) and as well as issuing specification updates, it provides a forum for discussion and cooperation between these organizations.
So, Was It the Year of Matter?
It is difficult to quantify the success of Matter in 2024. Metrics like device sales are hard to determine (was the device specifically bought for Matter?), as is user adoption (was it a Samsung TV that just happened to have a Matter hub built in?)
However, we know from the reaction to Matter devices at IFA 2024, and the enthusiasm seen from Richardson and Robinson that milestones are being hit and that ultimately, everyone wants Matter to work.
If Matter fell short of expectations in 2024, it was probably in the delivery of the specifications. This is an issue for the manufacturers rather than the CSA; the open nature of the standard results in publicly announced specifications, but exciting features don’t arrive until months later.
On a more positive note, improvements were made. The significant release of Thread 1.4 addressed reliability issues, and enhanced mesh network performance. Upgrades to Thread in 2024 were required due to issues with the protocol. These issues were important enough to prompt Nanoleaf to develop its own wireless protocol, Litewave, for use with its smart lighting controllers.
In 2025, Matter needs a shorter turnaround between specification release and roll-out. This may require hardware manufacturers to revise their approach to releasing devices, but better features are likely to attract more consumers to the smart home world. Another improvement would be better support from retailers. At the time of writing, IKEA is almost the only big retailer you can walk into an purchase Matter-compatible gear off the shelf. But the chances of someone with only a passing interest in kitting out their home with smart devices knowing what Matter is and what it represents is minimal.
Some smaller outlets may offer some Matter compatibles, but this is almost always LEDs.
Better retail support means improved demonstration – both for interior and Matter devices for the garden, so retailers really need to step up to make 2025 Matter.
Building With Matter in 2025
Matter’s increased profile throughout 2024 might not have satiated the needs of enthusiasts desperate for a seamless smart home experience, but it did at least make its presence felt. At this stage, it feels as though there is no turning back with this platform.
There was no smart home revolution in 2024, so there was no likelihood of us ever determining that it was the “year of Matter.” However, Matter grew enough in 2024 with its dual specification updates to ensure that in 2025, Matter can build on strong foundations.