Key Takeaways
- Matter is an open connectivity standard that lets smart devices from different brands work together.
- It runs over Thread and Wi-Fi, requiring a border router or Matter-compatible hub in your home.
- Major platforms — Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings — all support Matter.
- Many existing devices can gain Matter support through firmware updates, not hardware replacements.
- Matter improves setup simplicity and local processing, reducing dependence on cloud connectivity.
- Some advanced device features may still require the manufacturer's own app even after Matter adoption.
What Is Matter?
Matter is an open, royalty-free connectivity standard designed to make smart home devices work together across different brands and platforms. Maintained by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) — an industry group whose members include Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung — Matter defines a common language that devices use to communicate, so a smart bulb from one company can be controlled by a speaker from another without any workarounds.
Before Matter, buying a smart home device meant checking whether it was compatible with your specific ecosystem (Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and so on). That friction discouraged many people from building out their homes. Matter was purpose-built to eliminate that wall. If a device carries the Matter certification mark, it is guaranteed to work with any Matter-compatible controller, regardless of who made it.
To understand what a smart home setup looks like before and after Matter, see our overview of what smart homes actually are.
When shopping, look specifically for the Matter logo on the packaging — not just a list of supported platforms. Platform compatibility badges ("Works with Alexa," etc.) predate Matter and don't guarantee cross-platform interoperability.
Before Matter, many devices advertised multi-platform support but still required per-ecosystem configuration. The Matter certification mark is the reliable signal of standardized interoperability.
If you plan to use Thread-based Matter devices, confirm that your hub or smart speaker already includes a built-in Thread border router before buying sensors or accessories that depend on it.
Thread devices will not commission or communicate correctly without a border router present on the network. Checking in advance prevents setup frustration.
Why Matter Was Created
The smart home market grew rapidly but chaotically. Dozens of competing standards — Z-Wave, Zigbee, proprietary Wi-Fi stacks, and others — meant consumers faced a patchwork of incompatible products. Our guide to wireless protocols covers how each of those technologies differs and why the fragmentation became a real problem for everyday users.
The CSA launched Matter (originally called Project CHIP — Connected Home over IP) in 2019 specifically to consolidate the industry around a single interoperability layer. The core insight was that most smart home devices ultimately rely on IP networking — the same foundational technology as the internet — so building a standard on top of IP would allow it to run over multiple physical networks without reinventing the wheel.
280+
CSA member companies backing Matter
The Connectivity Standards Alliance counts over 280 member organizations, including major platform holders and device manufacturers.
2022
Year Matter 1.0 specification launched
Matter version 1.0 was officially released in October 2022, marking the first production-ready version of the standard.
How Matter Works Under the Hood
Matter operates as an application layer — meaning it sits on top of existing network technologies rather than replacing them. It currently runs over two physical transports: Wi-Fi (standard home wireless) and Thread (a low-power mesh networking protocol designed for battery-operated sensors and small devices).
For Thread-based Matter devices, a border router is required. This is a device — often a smart speaker or hub — that bridges Thread and Wi-Fi traffic. Many modern HomePod minis, Nest Hubs, and Echo devices already contain built-in Thread border routers.
When you add a Matter device to your network, setup uses a technology called commissioning: you scan a QR code or numeric code on the device, and your phone or hub securely introduces it to your local network. Critically, Matter prioritizes local control, meaning commands travel between your controller and device on your home network directly — not through a manufacturer's cloud server. This makes automations faster and keeps them working even if your internet goes down.
For a deeper look at how hubs fit into this picture, see our guide to smart home hubs.
Thread Requires a Border Router
Not every home Wi-Fi router acts as a Thread border router — they are separate functions. If you purchase Thread-based Matter devices and don't already have a border router (typically a smart speaker or hub that supports Thread), those devices will not connect. Check your existing devices before purchasing Thread accessories.
What Devices Support Matter?
As of the standard's rollout, Matter-certified device categories include smart lights, plugs and outlets, locks, thermostats, blinds, televisions, robot vacuums, and a growing list of sensors. Lighting is among the most widely adopted — if you're exploring that category, our smart lighting explainer walks through key decisions around bulbs and switches.
Notably, Matter is not limited to new hardware. Many manufacturers have issued firmware updates that add Matter support to existing devices. If you already own supported hardware, check the manufacturer's app or website for an update before assuming you need to replace anything.
Check for Firmware Updates Before Replacing Devices
Before buying new Matter-certified hardware to replace what you own, visit the manufacturer's support page or check for updates inside the device's app. A significant number of devices released in 2021 and 2022 received free over-the-air Matter firmware updates. Replacing working hardware unnecessarily adds cost without benefit.
Matter and Your Existing Smart Home
If you're just getting started, Matter simplifies your first purchase. Our no-jargon beginner's guide recommends looking for the Matter logo when buying your first device — it future-proofs your choice considerably.
For existing setups, the transition is gradual. Your current non-Matter devices don't stop working; they simply remain tied to their original ecosystem. Over time, as you replace or add devices, you can introduce Matter-certified products alongside older ones. Most major apps and hubs support both simultaneously.
Not All 'Smart' Devices Are Matter-Ready
Retail shelves still carry a large volume of non-Matter smart devices. A product that only lists platform badges ("Works with Google Home," etc.) but does not display the Matter logo is not Matter-certified and will not offer cross-platform flexibility. Read packaging carefully, especially for older stock that predates Matter's release.
What Matter Still Can't Do
Matter ensures that a device's core functions — turning on, adjusting brightness, reporting temperature — are interoperable. What it does not guarantee is that every advanced feature will work across all platforms. Proprietary capabilities, such as a camera's facial recognition or a thermostat's energy-history graphs, are often only accessible through the manufacturer's own app.
Matter also doesn't cover every device category yet. Video doorbells and cameras have been slower to arrive under the standard due to the complexity of streaming and privacy considerations, though work is ongoing. Security systems and some complex multi-endpoint devices also remain partially outside Matter's current scope.
The standard is versioned and actively updated. The CSA has released successive versions of the specification that expand device type coverage, so the ecosystem will broaden over time. Keeping your hub and controller apps updated ensures you benefit from those expansions as they arrive.
“The goal with Matter has always been to put the consumer in control — to make 'does it work with my stuff' a question nobody has to ask anymore.”
— Tobin Richardson, President and CEO, Connectivity Standards Alliance