This time, there’s no major version jump: The regular spring update to the Matter specifications doesn’t carry the expected version number 1.5. Instead, the Connectivity Standards Alliance is releasing an interim step (link). Following Matter 1.4 comes version 1.4.1 – labeled a “minor release” by the CSA. Going forward, a second decimal point in the version number will indicate smaller updates that have “no major new device types or flagship features”. Such minor releases focus on detail refinements and quality improvements. Matter 1.4.1, in particular, concentrates on improving the onboarding process for Matter devices.
Features for Simplified Setup
The incremental release introduces three new features: the Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF), a Multi-Device Setup QR Code, and Onboarding via NFC Tag.
- Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF) allows manufacturers’ terms of service to be displayed and accepted directly within Matter-compatible apps. Previously, devices that required consent – such as those subject to the EU’s GDPR –had to redirect users to the manufacturer’s own app for approval. Only after giving consent there could the user return to the Matter ecosystem. With ESF, relevant data can now be localized, displayed, and updated as needed, without the users having to leave their familiar app.
- The new Multi-Device Setup QR Code enables compatible apps to use a single QR code to onboard multiple devices at once. This simplifies the process for product bundles and multiple packages of devices such as lamps. It was sometimes unclear which code belonged to which device, and all codes had to be scanned one after the other.
- The Onboarding Info in NFC Tag feature extends the previous QR and numeric codes to include Near-Field Communication (NFC). Manufacturers can embed all required setup data into an NFC tag, allowing users to simply tap their phone to the device to begin onboarding. This is particularly handy for devices that are permanently installed or difficult to reach.
New Device Types Coming with Matter 1.5 in the Fall
The interim release also highlights what didn’t make the cut: none of the device types already in development made it into the spring release. Things like cameras, streaming speakers or garden irrigation with soil sensors were apparently not ready in time. They will therefore not appear until the next edition in the fall at the earliest, which should then become a major release again.
We’ve seen something similar before: Matter 1.1 didn’t introduce any new functionality either and focused solely on bug fixes. By today’s naming conventions, it would likely have been called 1.0.1. The new versioning model therefore brings greater clarity – and helps avoid version number inflation.
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