Smart home standard Matter can now wash, vacuum and ventilate

After a long lead time, the Matter smart home standard is now being expanded step by step. One year after the rather symbolic market launch with few concrete application options, version 1.2 of Matter is now being rolled out. This supports nine additional device types and new functions.

What exactly is Matter?

We remember: Matter is supposed to clear up the chaos in the smart home market. The new standard allows devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other via a central interface. An application such as Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Alexa takes on the role of this hub. In other words, the aim is for you to be able to combine smart home devices from different manufacturers and control them with a single central app.

Matter is being developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which is made up of over 200 companies. Including the industry giants mentioned above. If you want to know more about Matter, then the overview by colleague Jan is a great help.

The nine new device categories

Matter is currently available for lights, sockets, switches, thermostats, sensors and TVs. There are also wireless bridges such as the Philips Hue bridge for smart lighting. With the update to Matter 1.2, nine additional device categories can be controlled. Important to know: Not all smart gadget functions are supported for reasons of standardisation.

This is what the gadgets can transmit via Matter as of today:

Refrigerators: Control and monitor the temperature - even in freezers or wine fridges.

Air conditioners: Control of temperature and fan.

Dishwashers: Remote start and updates on the cleaning process and error messages.

Washing machines: Tracking of the washing process. Dryer not yet included.

Robot hoover: Selection of cleaning modes, activation of the robot, transmission of status information.

Alarm detector: Alarm messages from sensors for smoke and carbon monoxide. Transmission of measured carbon monoxide values. Additional battery status or remaining runtime.

Sensors for air quality: Display of measured values for PM1, PM 2.5, PM 10, CO₂, NO₂, VOC, CO, ozone, radon and formaldehyde.

Air purifier: Transmission of the same measurement data as the sensors. Control of the air purifier. Notification of HEPA and activated carbon filter wear.

Fans: Control the direction and speed of the air flow.

In addition to these device categories, smart locks and switches with additional functions can now also be controlled.

A lot of work remains for the smart home industry

Despite the welcome update, manufacturers are still a long way from reaching their goal. In reality, far too few products are still compatible with the Matter standard. Even now, the industry is holding back with concrete announcements - after many manufacturers have been unable to fulfil the promises of recent years.

Which robot hoover or washing machine will receive an update to Matter 1.2 or even be delivered with it remains to be seen. Heise has only received concrete information from SwitchBot in a survey of the major players. The manufacturer will install a firmware upgrade for Matter 1.2 on the S10 vacuum robot. When exactly is still unknown.

It will therefore be a while before customers can choose from a large number of smart home gadgets from different manufacturers and combine them via Matter.