Matter Explained
One shared language so a device works in every major app.
Matter is a shared application-layer standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance with backing from Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung and hundreds of device makers. The first specification shipped in late 2022, and later releases have steadily added device types.
The problem Matter solves is simple to state: before it, a smart bulb built for one ecosystem usually could not be used in another. You picked a side, and switching sides meant buying hardware again.
What Matter actually is
Matter is not a radio. It is a common set of rules that sits above the network layer, so devices can describe themselves in the same way no matter how they connect. Matter runs over three transports: Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Thread.
That is why a Matter smart plug and a Matter door lock can both be added to your home using the same QR code flow, even though one talks over Wi-Fi and the other over a low-power mesh.
The practical benefit is multi-admin: a single device can be commissioned into more than one ecosystem at once. Set a Matter bulb up in Apple Home and Google Home, and both can control it.
What Matter does not do
- It does not replace your hub or speaker. You still need a Matter controller — an app, a hub or a smart speaker — to run things.
- It does not guarantee feature parity. A device may expose more features in its own app than it does through Matter. Vendor-specific extras like detailed energy graphs often stay in the manufacturer's app.
- It does not make every old device Matter. Older Zigbee or Z-Wave hardware only becomes Matter-visible if a hub bridges it, and only for the device types that bridge supports.
- It does not fix bad Wi-Fi. Matter over Wi-Fi still depends on your router and your 2.4 GHz band.
Should you insist on Matter today?
Yes, for anything you expect to keep for years. The premium is usually small or nonexistent, and it removes the risk that your devices are stranded if you change phones or assistants.
The exception is when a non-Matter product is clearly better at the one job you care about — a camera system with the local storage you want, for example. Buy the best tool for the job, and prefer Matter where the choice is otherwise a toss-up.
Verify before you buy
Matter support is added by firmware and is sometimes limited to specific models or hub combinations. Check the manufacturer's current documentation rather than a review from two years ago.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Matter hub?
You need a Matter controller. Many smart speakers and displays already include one, and the major phone apps can act as controllers too. A separate hub is only necessary if you want Thread devices and none of your existing hardware has a Thread border router.
Is Matter the same as Thread?
No, and the confusion is common. Matter is the language devices speak. Thread is one of the networks they can speak it over, alongside Wi-Fi and Ethernet. See our Thread explainer.
Will Matter work with my older devices?
Only if the manufacturer adds support, or if a hub bridges them. Some older hardware will never be Matter-capable. In practice, most households end up with a mix of Matter devices and legacy devices living in the same app.