The Best Matter-Compatible Door and Window Sensors

If you want to enhance your home's security or add an extra touch of automation, consider installing a Matter-compatible door and window sensor. These versatile sensors offer much more than their name or appearance might suggest.

In this guide, we'll discuss the basics of smart door and window sensors, explain how Matter makes them better than ever, and give you our top picks.

What is a Matter Door and Window Sensor?

Matter-compatible door and window sensors - also known as contact sensors - provide security and automation benefits by physically attaching to the entry points within your home. Door and window sensors typically consist of two components: a primary sensor that houses all the electronics and a smaller magnet piece that determines open and close events.

Installing both pieces is incredibly simple. Just peel the included adhesive off each and stick them to the surface of your choice within proximity to each other. When you open or close your window, the sensor will send a notification to your phone, giving you valuable insight into your home's activities.

In addition to security notifications, door and window sensors work in routines, scenes, and automation. Like the best Matter-compatible motion sensors, you can set a door and window sensor to automatically turn on the lights in your home as soon as you enter or trigger an alarm when a window opens.

Thanks to Matter, the best door and window sensors are no longer bound to a single ecosystem or smart home platform. Everyone in your home - regardless of whether they use iOS or Android - can view and receive sensor alerts, and you can use them to control devices from other vendors.

What to Look for in Matter-compatible Door and Window Sensors

Since Matter takes the guesswork out of platform and ecosystem compatibility, choosing the perfect door and window sensor for your home boils down to three factors.

• Budget: While Matter door and window sensors are relatively affordable, you'll most likely need more than one to cover all your home's entry points. You'll also need to consider battery replacements and whether or not a sensor requires an additional vendor-specific hub.
• Features: Physical design and color options may also be important when placing them around your home. Some door and window sensors also include additional features such as motion detection, reducing the need for another device.
• Platform: Alongside Matter, some door and window sensors offer more extensive integration with other devices from the same vendor or additional services. For example, Philips Hue sensors can tie into a security monitoring service, giving you extra peace of mind when you are out and about.

The Top 5 Matter-compatible Door and Window Sensors

There are many Matter-enabled door and window sensors to choose from, so here's our picks for the best of the best.

Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2

In our recent review, the Aqara P2 Door and Window Sensor garnered high praise for its rock-solid reliability, fast response times, and straightforward setup. Aqara's sensor delivers in these critical areas by taking advantage of the latest and greatest networking technology—Thread.

The P2 measures 77 x 22 x 22 mm and runs for months on a single CR123 1400mAh battery. After attaching to a door or window, all it takes is a scan of the Matter pairing code to connect to your preferred ecosystem.

Although it works out of the box with Matter, the upcoming Aqara Hub M3—a standout at CES 2024—unlocks this sensor's true potential. Owners of both the sensor and the hub will be able to use the Aqara Home app to assign smart actions to the on-device button—something that isn't currently capable via Matter.

Aqara Door and Window Sensor

Despite being replaced by the P2, the original Aqara Door and Window sensor is still among the best on the market. Unlike the P2, Aqara's older sensor connects to your smart home via ZigBee, which offers excellent performance at an incredibly low price—if you already have an Aqara hub.

The original Aqara sensor is also one of the smallest around, measuring just 40.8 x 22 x 11 mm for the main component. The sensor's tiny footprint allows it to fit into areas other sensors cannot, and a generous gap tolerance of 22 mm covers doors and windows with uneven or larger distances.

If that weren't enough, Aqara's original sensor has an impressive two-year battery life on a single CR1632 coin cell. While it does require a hub, its affordable price, and small size make it a great option for homes with many doors and windows.

Eve Door and Window

The third-generation Eve Door and Window sensor provides smart notifications and automation capabilities without sacrificing privacy. Like all Eve products, it doesn't require an account to set up or manage, and it supports updates through platforms like Apple's Home app.

Eve's sensor connects to Matter over Thread, which enables speedy status updates while keeping your home's activities local. Thread also features extended battery life, with the Eve Door and Window lasting up to a year on the included 3.6V ER 14250 battery.

While the Eve Door and Window doesn't require an Eve hub, you will need a Thread Border Router to make its magic happen. Available routers include various models of Apple's HomePod, Google's Nest Hub, and Amazon's Echo smart speakers.

SwitchBot Door Alarm Contact Sensor

This clever solution from SwitchBot gives you three sensors in one compact package. The SwitchBot Door Alarm Contact Sensor includes both contact sensor functionality and a motion sensor, increasing its overall coverage within your home, as well as a light sensor.

As you might expect, the extras in this sensor put in on the larger size of the spectrum, coming in at 70.5 x 25.5 x 23 mm. Battery life is seemingly unaffected, though, as SwitchBot claims that it lasts up to three years on two AA batteries. 

To add SwitchBot's sensor to Matter, you'll need one of the company's more recent smart hubs. Compatible hubs include the SwitchBot Hub 2 and the refreshed SwitchBot Hub Mini, which feature unique capabilities, like controls for infrared devices.

Philips Hue Secure Smart Contact Sensor

The Philips Hue Secure Contact Sensor goes above and beyond by tying into the company's suite of home security products. Through this integration—and the right combination of hardware—the Hue Secure Contact Sensor can trigger cameras and lighting and even offer an option to contact emergency services right in the Hue app.

The Hue Secure Contact Sensor is also the only Matter option on the market with a sleek black finish. The sensor comes with a CR2 battery, capable of powering it for up to two years, and mounts either via the included adhesive or screws for a more secure installation.

Besides the higher upfront costs, the Philips Hue Contact Sensor has some additional costs you'll need to consider. One is that it requires the Hue Smart Bridge (sold separately) and an optional monthly subscription for the extra security features.

Secure and Automate With a Matter-Compatible Door and Window Sensor

With a simple setup and peel-and-stick installation, Matter-compatible door and window sensors are an easy way to give your smart home a security upgrade. Whether it is keeping you up-to-date with notifications, or firing up an automation the moment you enter your house, Matter-compatible door and window sensors play a vital role in the smart home.