Matter Alpha

IKEA is stepping up its smart home ambitions by introducing LILJEBAGGE, a Matter-over-Thread radiator thermostat designed to control water-based heating systems for a budget-friendly 199 Swedish krona. Ward Zhou 32 minutes ago Please note: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our ethics policy IKEA is making a surprising expansion to its smart home portfolio with LILJEBAGGE, a Matter-over-Thread radiator thermostat designed for water-based heating systems.

Although Thread doesn't need a "hub" in the traditional sense, you will still need another piece of hardware called a Thread Border Router—to take advantage of its benefits. So, if you are just starting a smart home or making the move to Matter, you'll need to know which devices act as Thread Border Routers. Here's our complete list of all the Thread Border Routers on the market today. Please note: This page may contain affiliate links.

Homey has rolled out support for Matter over-the-air firmware updates, allowing users to patch compatible smart home devices directly through the platform using the official Distributed Compliance Ledger. Ward Zhou 58 minutes ago Please note: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our ethics policy Smart home platform Homey has added over-the-air firmware updates for Matter devices, allowing users to update supported products directly without returning to a manufacturer’s app or hub.

Home Assistant has released its next monthly update in beta, bringing one of its most useful Matter troubleshooting tools directly into the main interface. The new Matter network map combines Wi-Fi and Thread devices with Wi-Fi access points and Thread Border Routers in one topology. The release also includes fixes for Matter and Thread, alongside broader improvements for security and connected hardware.

The Zemismart M1 Pro Hub is a small routing device that tries to do everything, and fails in the process. It’s an IR emitter for controlling your legacy devices. It’s a Matter controller for your Thread devices. It’s a Zigbee gateway and Matter bridge, over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. But when there are better devices available, it’s tough to recommend. The one major flaw is that it creates its own Thread network, rather than joining your existing one.

Do you live in a smart home? What defines a smart home can be ambiguous, but last year I embarked on a project that would absolutely cement mine as one—I began replacing every wall switch in my home with a smart switch. It was a big undertaking, with me unclear at the outset if I was choosing the right product. Now that I've had a year to live with my decision, was it worth it? The cost was higher than I initially expected I jumped on this great enterprise almost on a whim.

LIFX has kicked off a public beta enabling its current-generation Matter-compatible smart lights to switch from Wi-Fi to Matter-over-Thread via a simple firmware update. Ward Zhou 7 hours ago Please note: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our ethics policy LIFX has opened beta testing for Thread today on its latest Matter smart lights, allowing supported products currently running over Wi-Fi to switch to Matter over Thread through a firmware update.

Apple’s recent open-source code contributions to Matter’s OpenWrt integration have sparked speculation that the tech giant could be quietly laying the groundwork to re-enter the home router market. Ward Zhou 1 hour ago Please note: This page may contain affiliate links. Read our ethics policy Apple has been actively contributing to OpenWrt-related development under Matter’s official open-source project, putting the company surprisingly close to the home router again.

Aqara has expanded its H1 full-color lighting lineup in China with new downlights and spotlights, bringing the same Zigbee and Matter-over-Thread dual-connectivity from its recently released H1 light strip controller into built-in ceiling lighting. The new H1 series focuses less on saturated RGB effects and more on subtle colors and natural-looking white light. It offers an unusually wide color temperature range, high color rendering, deep dimming, and Apple Adaptive Lighting.

The SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro is one of the best Matter-compatible smart locks you can buy, one that can scan not only your fingerprint but also your face and palm as well. But technology slows down for no one. Without the native smartphone wallet credentials enabled by Aliro or ultra wideband Bluetooth, is this the best lock to place on your door for years to come?