6 ways you can take Matter outdoors

Most smart home tech is designed for indoor use, but Matter-compatible devices can extend beyond the walls of your home. Why might you want to take Matter outside? Anywhere you can use lights, sensors, and locks--Matter makes matters more fun.

Replace outdoor bulbs with Matter bulbs

There are various ways you can provide Matter-controlled lighting outside your home. Outdoor lights with Matter have started to hit the market, but it's cheaper to simply put Matter-compatible bulbs inside your existing light fixtures. Then you can extend the same light dimming, color-changing, and remote access features you have indoors, outdoors.

If your outdoor lights are outside of the range of your Wi-Fi, that's something you can fix with a Wi-Fi extender or by adding additional nose to your mesh Wi-Fi setup. You have more flexibility if you're using bulbs with Thread, like those from Nanoleaf.

Nanoleaf Matter A19 E26 Smart Bulb

The Nanoleaf Matter A19 E26 is a color-changing LED smart bulb that supports Matter over Thread for compatibility with various smart home ecosystems, offering over 16 million colors and tunable white light.

Buy at Amazon US

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• Amazon UK - £8.96

If you're already invested in a different ecosystem, or you just want a different brand, take a look at the best Matter-compatible smart bulbs before making a purchase.

Replace light switches for outdoor lights

Many light fixtures have integrated lights, which means you're unable to change the bulbs. You can't adjust the lighting these fixtures produce, but you can still control them from your phone or voice assistant. To do that, rather than change the lights, you swap out the light switches instead.

There are many brands that can help you do this. TP-Link Tapo provides one of the cheaper options, and their switches work over Wi-Fi without the need for a Tapo-specific hub.

TP -Link Tapo S505 Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch

The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch S505 enables control of lights and ceiling fans through the Tapo app, supports voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant, and can be automated with Tapo sensors, without the need for an internet connection.

Buy at Amazon US for $12.99

Again, you aren't limited to just one option. There are many Matter-compatible smart light switches on the market.

Buy Matter-compatible outdoor powerstrips

There's more to the outdoors than lights. Maybe you have a fan for when you're sitting out on the porch. Perhaps you have a TV for showing the game while cooking out. These are all the things you can control using Matter.

The easiest option is to grab a TP-Link Tapo P400M, which comes with an IP65 weather resistance rating. Simply connect to any outdoor power outlet or extension cord, and you're good to go.

TP-Link Tapo Smart Outdoor Plug P400M

The TP-Link Tapo Smart Outdoor Plug P400M, certified by Matter, features two independently controlled outlets and dual antennas for extended Wi-Fi range, designed to withstand extreme weather with an IP65 rating, and supports voice and remote control for outdoor appliances up to 1800W.

Buy at Amazon US for $19.99

Place motion sensors around your home

Smart homes can detect when you're home as soon as your phone connects to Wi-Fi, but that doesn't allow for much precision. With a motion sensor, you can automate activity from the moment you pull into the driveway or start walking along the path to your front door. Tell a lamp to come on to illuminate the yard. Have a flood light brighten the entire driveway. Start turning on interior lights so you can see when you get inside. You can turn up the thermostat or even start playing light background music.

Let your imagination go to work. You just need to pick from one of the best Matter-compatible motion sensors to get started.

Get a temperature sensor for hyper-local readings

It's one thing to stick a thermometer outside your door, but now you can get local temperature readings without having to stick your head outside. There are Matter-compatible temperature and humidity sensors that can gauge your local climate. This information is then relayed inside, where you can check it from your smart home hub of choice.

The TUO Temperature Sensor is one that also supports Matter-over-Thread.

TUO Temperature Sensor

The TUO Temperature Sensor TTS-1195 is a WiFi-enabled roller motor for 36-38mm tubes, designed for precise temperature adjustments and compatible with Matter for multi-platform connectivity.

Buy at Amazon UK

Smart locks not just for your home, but your shed

There are growing number of smart locks that can protect the entrances to your home, and you can use these same locks to protect your outdoor structures. You can stick one on the shed, outdoor office, rental space, boat house, or whatever other kind of small building you have around your home.

These locks don't just give you the ability to lock and unlock remotely. They give you insights into whether a door has been left unlocked without having to go outside to check. They also tend to support keypad unlock and generally save you the hassle of having to juggle a separate shed key.

Since Matter is a versatile standard able to connect via Wi-Fi and Thread alike, you have options in the ways you extend connections outside of your home. You can invest in outdoor kit with peace of mind that your gadgets will continue to work even as your network connection and technology changes in the future.