How Will AI Integrate into Matter Devices in the Future?

With the current boom in AI, it won't be long before we all have a HAL9000 to manage our smart homes for us.

The Best Matter-Compatible Garden Equipment

With the Matter standard hitting the scene almost two years ago, we've seen the market flooded with smart home staples like plugs, sensors, and light bulbs. Now with the basics covered, manufacturers have begun turning their attention to other important aspects of our daily lives—which includes the great outdoors.

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.

The Best Matter-Compatible Power Strips

As great as they are though, smart plugs are not always the best answer for every situation—especially when multiple devices are involved. When you need the versatility of smart plugs for your desk or behind a TV, you'll want to consider a Matter-compatible power strip.

How to Tell Which Version of Matter You’re Using

Knowing which version of Matter your hardware is running can help you to choose the right devices. It will also determine which features your smart home kit can control via a smart hub app, and which ones are restricted to the device’s native app. But there is a problem. You can’t definitively find out which version of Matter you’re using.

Everything You Need To Know About The Matter Pairing Process

Pairing your new Matter accessory should be simple—but behind the scenes there’s a lot going on. Here’s what you need to know about the process.

How Smart Home Devices Will Change With The Matter Standard

The chances are, your smart home isn’t as smart as you would like it to be.  Incompatibility, a lack of interoperability, and perhaps a simple tiff between brands and ecosystems are taking their toll. Multiple apps, dependence on specific hubs, and a collision of ecosystems in an attempt to make things simply work.

Matter vs Z-Wave: What's the Difference?

Arguably the biggest problem with smart homes is the lack of compatibility between devices and hubs. Even where compatibility is used as a selling point, problems can occur down the line. Two possible solutions are the Matter protocol and the Z-Wave mesh networking system. But both are slightly different.

The Best Matter-Compatible Lamps To Light Up Your Life

No smart home is complete without proper lighting that you can control from the couch or from across the world. And while you may think to look for a smart bulb, plug, or switch when building the connected home of your dreams, you may benefit more from an all-in-one solution like a Matter-compatible lamp.

What Is Zigbee? Is Matter Better?

Smart homes cannot work if the smart devices cannot communicate. Having Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support isn’t enough – devices need a way to message each other, a shared language, or protocol. Two prominent protocols are Zigbee and Matter. Current smart home devices and hubs support both protocols, but eventually one of them will be dropped. So which one will it be?

See Who's There, From Anywhere: The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Home Video Doorbells

The plain humdrum doorbell has undergone a high-tech transformation. Smart video doorbells combine the familiar chime with a built-in camera, letting you see who's at your door – even when you're not home. Now Matter has jumped into the ding-dong industry.

Can IKEA Become a Serious Smart-Home Player? An Analysis of Their Matter-Compatible Products

Matter is becoming the most significant smart home standard. But take a trip to IKEA, and things are a little different. Not only does the Swedish retailer have a wide selection of smart lamps and LEDs, it also has a hub. Can the Matter-compatible Dirigera hub and the rest of the Tradfri line turn IKEA into a player in the smart home?

The Best Matter-Compatible Buttons and Remotes

Instead of wading through potential distractions on your phone, or shouting to a voice assistant the next time you need to toggle the lights, consider a Matter-compatible button or remote. With just a click, Matter-compatible buttons and remotes can turn on the lights, close the blinds, or fire up a movie night scene with ease.

What is Matter Casting and Which Devices Support It?

You’ve probably used Chromecast or AirPlay, or any of the other wireless video casting systems. They’re useful for sharing media on your mobile device to a TV, whether video or photos. Smart home protocol Matter has its own casting technology, Matter Casting.

The Best Matter-Compatible Temperature and Humidity Sensors

Keeping an eye on your home's climate is crucial for ensuring the comfortability of everyone in your household. While smart thermostats are a great place to start, they only monitor the room in which they are installed. For expanded coverage, you may want to consider a Matter-compatible temperature and humidity sensor.

The Best Matter-Compatible Strip Lights

LED strip lights are truly a smart home staple - and for good reason. These flexible wonders of light can bring color and ambiance to pretty much anywhere. Whether you are looking for a strip light for underneath the cabinets, or you want to amp up your holiday displays, you've come to the right place.

Matter 1.3 is Coming Out Spring 2024. Here's What to Expect

Spring 2024 is the expected timeframe for the release of Matter 1.3. This revision to the standard is likely to build upon the previous version, adding further interoperability, support for new device categories, and security enhancements.

How to Add a Matter Device to the Google Home app

If you are going with Google for all your smart home needs, you'll spend the bulk of your time managing devices in the Google Home app either on Android or iOS. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about adding your device to Google's smart home platform.

How to Add a Matter Device to the Apple Home App

For iPhone users, Apple's Home app serves as a one-stop destination for controlling and managing your Matter devices. We'll show you how easy it is to add your Matter devices so you can be up and running with Siri voice and Apple Home app controls in minutes.

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.

Does Matter Share my Wi-Fi Credentials With the Smart Home Device?

When you add a new Matter device to your smart home setup, it requires access to your network. But does Matter share the Wi-Fi credentials with the device? If so, is this secure?

The Best Matter-Compatible Motion Sensors

With the ability to detect motion, send timely notifications, and automate your home's lighting, motion sensors are essential to the modern smart home.

Will Matter Cause Wireless Network Congestion?

The answer is complicated, but there are ways to mitigate any potential issues.

How Do Matter Devices Receive Updates?

Matter-compatible devices occasionally receive updates, adding new functionality and features, and ensure the devices remain secure. New versions of Matter have so far been released periodically, but how do these updates reach your existing Matter compatible devices?

What is a Thread Border Router?

Bridge, controller, border router—what does it all mean!? In this explainer, we'll do a deep dive into the Thread Border Router (and why you might already have one).

The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Room Heaters: Taking Control of Your Comfort

With the convenience, control, and potential cost savings they offer, Matter-compatible smart room heaters are poised to become a popular choice for creating a personalized and efficient heating experience in your home.

The best Matter-compatible home thermostats

The smart home environment is rapidly evolving, transforming our living spaces into places of convenience and efficiency. One key aspect is creating a comfortable and energy-saving environment, and Matter-compatible thermostats are poised to be game-changers in this arena.

The Best Matter-Compatible Smart Speakers: Ushering in a New Era of Smart Homes

Smart speakers are one, if not one of the main ones, to benefit from Matter integration. If you're looking to invest in a smart speaker that won't be obsolete tomorrow, Matter-compatible options are the way to go.

Why Four Brands Haven't Embraced Matter

The smart home industry is buzzing with the arrival of Matter, a standard aimed at simplifying the compatibility of devices and streamlining the user experience. While major players like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung have pledged support, some notable brands remain absent.

What does Matter give you that you don’t already have?

The fragmented landscape of the smart home, with incompatible devices and frustrating proprietary protocols, is about to be transformed. Enter Matter, the industry-backed interoperability standard, promising to bridge the communication gap and ensure seamless connectivity.

What new Matter advances can we look forward to in the near future?

Matter's impact extends far beyond mere compatibility. It lays the groundwork for exciting advancements that will redefine the way we live and interact with our homes. Let's explore five key areas where Matter is poised to unlock a wave of innovation.

Will Matter Unlock the Future of Smart Home Locks?

In the past, compatibility issues have hindered many possible innovations in the smart home space. Could Matter now usher in more widespread adoption of smart locks?

5 Best Matter-Compatible Security Cameras: Enhance Your Smart Home Security

Matter, the industry-backed smart home standard, promises to break down the walls between different ecosystems, allowing devices from various brands to talk to each other seamlessly. And what better way to embrace this future than with Matter-compatible security cameras?

The 5 best Matter-compatible smart door locks

With its emphasis on interoperability, Matter promises to break down the barriers between different smart home ecosystems, allowing you to effortlessly control and manage your door locks from a single app or voice command.

The 4 best Matter-compatible window blinds

With Matter, you can seamlessly control your blinds from a single app or voice command, regardless of the manufacturer or platform. In this article, we will explore the top 4 Matter-compatible window blinds that are currently available on the market.

The 5 Best Matter-Compatible Plugs

Today, we're going to look at Matter-compatible smart plugs, showcasing the top 5 picks that stand out for their ease of use, feature set, and compatibility with multiple smart home platforms.

The 5 Best Matter-Compatible Light Switches

Among the many smart home devices embracing Matter, light switches have emerged as frontrunners, offering an enhanced level of convenience and control. Here are the top five recommendations.

Best Matter-Compatible Smart Light Bulbs: Illuminating Your Smart Home

Smart bulbs are the cornerstone of any self-respecting smart home owner. But there are so many bulbs to choose from. Which ones are the best?

Who is behind the smart home standard Matter?

Matter is becoming a really big deal. So who are the major players behind the new smart-home protocol?

What are the downsides of using Matter?

Here on MatterAlpha, we like to wax lyrical about the benefits of Matter. But maybe you're wondering if there are any downsides to using it? Here are three possible downsides you should be currently aware of.

What is the difference between Matter and Thread?

Matter and Thread. What are they in their simplest terms? How do they differ from one another? Do you need Thread to use Matter?

What is Thread?

If you're busy reading up on Matter smarthome devices, you may have come across mentions of something called Thread. But what is it?

What is the Matter Smart Home Standard?

If you're only now hearing about a smart home standard called Matter, you may be wondering what it is all about. Here's a summary.