Matter Residences is the new smart home protocol that aims to make devices from different platforms play nicely. It’s slated to be released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) in 2022, and a slew of big brands have already pledged support and outlined plans for future products that will work with the standard.
Unlike existing protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave, Matter will use Wi-Fi or Ethernet to communicate between devices, and won’t need an internet connection. It’s also designed to be local to the home, reducing reliance on the cloud.
At launch, Matter will support a few categories of smart devices including smart light bulbs and fixtures, smart plugs, connected locks, and some media devices, like smart TVs. It will not yet include smart security cameras, though the CSA has said it will add support in the future.
You won’t need a dedicated Matter hub to use your device, but you will need a Matter controller to set them up and control them. That’s likely to be either a smart speaker or a router, and several companies have already announced that their existing apps will be Matter controllers. These include the TP-Link Tapo app, the Samsung SmartThings app, and those for Nanoleaf, Aqara, and Schneider.
If you own devices from a company that supports Matter, they can be upgraded to work with the protocol via an over-the-air firmware update. For example, the Philips Hue Bridge will be upgradable to Matter, and if you own a Nest Cam that works with HomeKit, that camera can be converted into a Matter security camera through an app upgrade from the CSA. matter residences