What is the Matter Smart Home Standard?

Matter is a new smart home standard currently being developed by a consortium of over two hundred companies, including big players such as Apple, Google, Phillips, Amazon and Samsung.

In an era where companies have their own proprietary devices which only work on their own platforms, Matter is designed to make it easier for consumers to connect and control smart devices from different brands, and to ensure that their devices are secure and interoperable. This can only be a good thing for consumers, as it provides them with more choices, including not being tied to only one brand.

Let’s now take a look at how Matter works at a basic level, as well as the benefits of using Matter, if you currently use another device and platform, and are considering switching.

How Matter works

Matter is based on the Internet Protocol (IP), which is the same protocol used for the web and other internet services. This means that Matter devices will be able to communicate with each other directly, without the need for a cloud hub or other go-between. This makes Matter devices more secure and reliable, and it also gives privacy-minded consumers more control over their private smart home data.

Matter's preferred network is called Thread but it also works with more common standards such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee and other protocols with gateway devices. Matter devices can be controlled using a variety of different apps and platforms. This includes mobile apps, desktop apps, and even voice assistants.

The Many Benefits of Using the Matter smart home standard

There are many benefits to using Matter devices in your smart home.

Security

Matter devices are more secure than traditional smart home devices, because they communicate directly with each other using IP. This means that your data is not vulnerable to attack if a cloud hub is compromised. Since hackers like to specifically target smart home devices, security is paramount, and Matter provides this in spades.

Reliability

Matter devices are more reliable than traditional smart home devices, because they do not require a cloud hub to function. This means that your smart home will continue to work even if your internet connection is down.

This can be a lifesaver if you are running devices such as locks and security systems - Internet downtime could result in a disaster.

Interoperability

Matter devices are interoperable with each other, regardless of the brand. This means that you can mix and match devices from different brands to create a smart home that is perfectly tailored to your needs.

Ease of use

Matter devices are easy to set up and use. Devices will be automatically discovered and configured, and users will be able to control them using a variety of different apps and platforms.

The days of puzzling through instruction manuals and going through lengthy installation processes will soon be a thing of the past.

Reduced costs

Matter is a royalty-free standard, which means that it is free for manufacturers to use. This is expected to lead to lower prices for consumers, which will in turn, help to increase adoption of the new smart home standard.

It will also encourage companies such as Amazon, Google, and Apple to decrease the costs of their own devices to compete.

Increased Innovation

We have got to the stage where smart home devices have stagnated in terms of new features and development. We seem to have had the same features for a long time now, without any groundbreaking new developments being revealed.

Therefore, it is great that Matter is expected to spur smart home innovation, as manufacturers compete to develop new and innovative Matter-compatible devices.

Sustainability

Matter devices are designed to be more energy-efficient than traditional smart home devices. This can help to reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your energy bills.

At a time when the focus is on the environment and global warming, having environmentally-friendly devices is an added bonus.

Future-Proof

Matter is a future-proof standard. This means that Matter devices will continue to be compatible with new smart home devices and services that are released in the future.

You won’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on outfitting your home with smart home devices, and then discovering a year or two down the line that everything is practically obsolete.

Examples of Matter devices

So, you may now be wondering what kind of devices Matter will be compatible with. Let’s take a look at various ones to give you a good general overview.

Lights

Companies involved with Matter smart lights include NanoLeaf and IKEA. Matter lights will be able to be controlled individually or in groups. You will also be able to create custom lighting scenes, and automate your lights to turn on and off at specific times or based on certain triggers.

The days of getting out of your chair to flip the light switch on and off are over. The security of your home can also be enhanced by having lights automatically switch themselves on while you are away from home, giving the impression that the house is occupied.

Thermostats

Matter thermostats will be able to be programmed to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, even when you are away. You will also be able to receive alerts if your home temperature gets too high or too low. In the interests of saving money on your energy bills, a Matter thermostat will ensure that the temperature stays at an optimal level.

Locks

Matter locks will be able to be locked and unlocked remotely using your smartphone or other device. You will also be able to create and share digital keys with friends and family. This benefit obviously has to be weighed against the overall security of your home.

The smart locks industry recently got a huge boost from Google, Apple, and Samsung, who recently announced a joint project called Aliro.

Security systems

Matter security systems will be able to detect intruders and send you alerts. You will also be able to view live video from your security cameras remotely.

If you are someone that is away from home a lot on business, being able to keep an eye on your property from wherever you happen to be is both beneficial to peace of mind, as well as potentially lowering your home insurance costs.

Other devices

Other Matter devices will include smart plugs, smart bulbs, smart speakers, robot vacuum cleaners, and more. In fact, pretty soon, there will be no smart devices which will escape the Matter standard. Since Matter is a constantly evolving standard, always being improved and worked upon, innovation will never stand still.