The Best Matter-Compatible IR Blasters

In our guide to the best smart plugs, we covered how they are a simple, yet effective way to add Matter capabilities to older devices with physical controls. However, smart plugs aren't so hot when it comes to devices that don't save their state after powering down or for those that rely on a remote.

For these types of devices, you'll need to turn to a Matter-compatible IR Blaster to get the job done. In this guide, we'll cover the benefits of IR blasters, explain how they work with Matter, and provide you with a few recommendations so you can make all your older devices smart.

What is a Matter-Compatible IR Blaster?

Before diving into Matter, let's briefly talk about infrared and IR blasters. We won't bore you with the specifics, so we'll only focus on how it applies to consumer devices—as a shortwave data transmission technology.

If you have ever used a TV remote, you have experienced infrared—also known as IR—technology. That's because TV remotes commonly use infrared to send a command over the air to a receiver on the corresponding device.

IR blasters are essentially another form of a remote but are not specific to a brand or device type. IR blasters are programmed by capturing signals from an original remote or through codes, and then they emulate the signal to control a desired device.

Matter-compatible IR blasters simplify the process by allowing for programming through an app. The app will then allow for exporting the commands to Matter in the form of new devices or as Scenes.

The resulting devices and Scenes will appear in smart home ecosystems such as Alexa, Google, or Apple Home. From there, you can issue the command at will with a tap or shout—just like you do for toggling other smart devices.

What to Look for in Matter-Compatible IR Blasters

With Matter compatibility, you won't need to spend precious time trying to figure out if an IR blaster works with your platform of choice. Instead, we suggest narrowing down your options by focusing on the following areas: budget, features, and design.

• Budget: Pricing for Matter-compatible IR blasters varies, so if budget is a concern, you'll want to stick with simpler options. However, if you plan to purchase other devices in the future, you can potentially save money by choosing a blaster with extras.
• Features: Consider your specific needs when shopping for an IR blaster. Some blasters offer deeper integration with heating and air devices, while others support IR learning that enables support for obscure devices.
• Design: IR blasters require a direct line of sight to appliances. Smaller blasters won't stick out as much in your home, while larger units with displays can serve as a focal point by offering metrics like temperature.

The Top 5 Matter-Compatible IR Blasters

It may seem like a niche category, but there are quite a few Matter-compatible IR blasters on the market. Here are our top 5 picks to help you choose the blaster for your needs.

SwitchBot Hub 2

Already one of our picks for the best Matter-compatible temperature and humidity sensors, the SwitchBot Hub 2 also happens to be an excellent IR blaster. SwitchBot's flagship hub can learn signals from almost any infrared remote, and with a built-in list of popular brands to choose from, it only takes a few minutes to make "dumb" appliances smart.

Once you program the SwitchBot Hub 2, you can send IR commands from your phone, your favorite voice assistant, or through a pair of on-device capacitive buttons. And, as previously mentioned, the Hub 2 features temperature and humidity sensors that put climate measurements a glance away with its large easy-to-read display.

SwitchBot Hub Mini Matter Enabled

SwitchBot's smaller Hub Mini offers a relatively straightforward IR blaster experience—just without the extras. The Hub Mini forgoes the onboard display, buttons, and smart home sensors in favor of a more affordable package that can fit into more places with its compact design.

In addition to supporting standard IR commands such as power and volume, a recent update to the Hub Mini enables more robust controls for air conditioning units. These new capabilities include the ability to toggle between different modes and temperature adjustments making it perfect for window or mini-split solutions.

Nature Remo Nano

The Nature Remo Nano made headlines last year when it became the first Matter-compatible IR blaster to hit the scene. While it has increased competition today, it still is one of the best around thanks to its affordable price and support for multiple infrared device types.

Supported devices include TVs, stereos, lighting, air conditioners, and most fan types—including ceiling fans. While you will need to download the Nature Remo app to program it, Nature's app is home to many useful features like scheduling that allow you to truly automate your older devices.

Aqara Smart Hub M3

Although it is primarily marketed as a hub for Aqara's range of ZigBee and Thread-enabled smart home products, the Aqara Hub M3 is also a pretty capable IR blaster with a couple of rather unique abilities. One standout feature is the M3's ability to send infrared commands in any direction with full 360-degree capabilities.

Another highlight is feedback and learning functions, with Aqara claiming that it can capture IR signals when programming commands or when manually using remotes. This means that your smart home platform will always be up-to-date with status changes—a big hurdle for traditional IR blasters.

Be sure to check out our hands-on Aqara Hub M3 review.

Aqara Camera Hub G3

Another jack-of-all-trades option from Aqara—the Camera Hub G3—crams a motorized pan-and-tilt camera, ZigBee 3.0 hub, security alarm, and IR blaster into one. This makes Aqara's camera perfect for living room settings where it can be used to control TVs and electric fireplaces while also providing the ability to keep an eye on your home from anywhere in the world.

Of course, since Matter doesn't support cameras as of yet, you'll need to rely on the Aqara Home app or one of the major smart home platforms to peek in. But, as you'll need the app to set up IR functions anyway, and with Aqara's support for Alexa, Google, and Apple Home, we think it's a worthy trade off until Matter matures.

Blast Some Smarts Into Older Devices With a Matter-Compatible IR Blaster

If you have an older device that you just can't let go of but want to make smart, a Matter-compatible IR blaster may be your answer. All it takes is one of our picks, a clear view, and a few taps, and you'll finally be able to slot that one pesky device into your Routines, Scenes, and Automation.