The Matter standard – which brings HomeKit compatibility to a far broader range of devices – is getting a significant upgrade.
The latest version will enable the production of lower cost HomeKit-compatible smart home devices, as well as slicker control over your existing ones …
A quick recap on Matter and HomeKit
Originally, brands wanting to offer HomeKit compatibility had to comply with an Apple-specific standard, and submit their devices for approval. The Matter standard eliminates both steps, with any Matter-compatible device automatically compatible with HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and Samsung Smart Things.
Cheaper HomeKit compatible devices
Currently, smart home devices often need to support both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, even when the former is only ever used for initial setup. Incorporating both radio standards makes devices more expensive to manufacture.
The latest version of the Matter standard (1.4.2) supports WiFi-only commissioning. This means manufacturers no longer have to include Bluetooth support, which should reduce prices.
More reliable control of scenes
Some scenes which make changes over time. For example, lights which dim and change to a warmer color temperature as the day progresses.
Currently, commands need to be sent to each device to trigger each progressive change. This involves a significant number of commands.
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