There is an English expression for what is happening to Matter right now: growing pains. It describes the situation better than the term “Kinderkrankheiten” (childhood diseases), which is commonly used in Germany. Because you can still get measles and chickenpox as an adult – sometimes with unpleasant consequences. At Matter, on the other hand, everyone is hoping that the teething troubles will grow out into a healthy, handsome smart home standard. Even if their confidence is sometimes put to the test. This was already evident on the eve of the IFA electronics show in Berlin, when exhibitor Nanoleaf streamed its keynote live from Canada.
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Thread issues and their solution
In this presentation, Matter pioneer Nanoleaf announced the long-awaited market launch of its multifunctional Sense+ wireless switch, but did not mention other pending Thread products such as the Nala Bridge or the Matter update of its Sklight panels. Instead, the company is now expanding its range of Matter-enabled lights to include Wi-Fi lamps – and is also using its own wireless protocol called Litewave to control products. This does not give the impression that Nanoleaf expects the Thread protocol to spread rapidly. When asked, Gimmy Chu, co-founder of Nanloeaf, explained in the stream: “It’s about accessibility. Not everbody understands what Thread is. They are like do I need a Border Router and then rather pick a Wi-Fi product instead. That is why we are completing our lineup with Wi-Fi lamps.”
Eve Systems, one of the most avid Thread supporters, did not have a stand in Berlin. Eve products – along with other brands from the ABB family – were only on display in the Samsung hall at SmartThings. Netatmo, whose Thread sensor we have been waiting for over two years, was also absent, preferring to launch its new, affordable Omajin smart home brand in Paris – with devices that do not support Matter (link).
It’s no secret that the spread of Thread is slower than many had hoped. A major reason for this are probably open construction sites in the Matter standard. In particular, the inability of many border routers to form a cross-manufacturer mesh network (see interview: “This is not yet the desired condition”). However, it would be premature to dismiss the Thread protocol straight away. Not only because the vendors have improved a lot with software updates in recent months. Apple and Google are incorporating the standard into their latest smartphones. And there is also a remedy in sight from a higher level.
On September 4th, 2024, one day before the start of IFA, the Thread Group published new specifications (link). Version 1.4 of the wireless protocol makes it easier to set up shared mesh networks. And the upcoming Matter release 1.4 is likely to include border routers as a new device class – alongside heat pumps, battery storage and other product categories (no, cameras will probably not make it into the standard this time either, Chris LaPré, Head of Technology at the CSA, told me in Berlin).
Both innovations will lead to Thread gaining reliability and interoperability, making it easier to use – because no one will have to think about choosing the right Border Router. However, implementation will take time. Considering that not even Matter 1.3 has really arrived on the market yet, the corresponding border routers are unlikely to be available before the middle or end of 2025.
Dual radio products with Zigbee and Thread
Some manufacturers would rather not wait that long and are taking a two-pronged approach. Their new products are capable of both Zigbee and Thread. This gives buyers the choice of using either wireless protocol and allows them to switch at any time. Take Bosch, for example: devices from the new [+M] series are switchable. In Zigbee mode, they connect to the company’s smart home controller and support the extensive functions of the Bosch system. Since the controller works as a Matter Bridge, it can also be used to link to platforms such as Alexa, Apple Home or SmartThings. The best of both worlds, so to speak.
The other way is via Thread: At the touch of a button on the housing, [+M] devices switch to native Matter mode, using an existing border router for connection. The Bosch controller is not required in this case, which makes the devices independent of the manufacturer’s smart home system. Three products from the new series are initially planned by the end of 2024: Radiator thermostat, door/window contact and smart plug. “However, we aim to gradually convert the entire Zigbee range,” Christian Thess, Managing Director of Bosch Smart Home, said in our talk at IFA.
Aqara is pursuing a similar strategy and showed various products in Berlin that support both protocols, including light switches, dimmer and a wall switch for roller shutters. “This way, users don’t have to buy two versions of the same product,” explains Cathy You, Business Development and Strategy Lead. “We have launched pure Matter sensors with Thread, but their capabilities were limited. Users only realized after purchasing that they couldn’t connect them to their Zigbee hub.”
This is one of the reasons why Aqara developed the M3 hub with both protocols: “It bridges the gap between Zigbee and Thread. And we will transfer this concept to other components in the range to make them more accessible. I can’t promise that it will be in all products”, said Cathy You, “but we’re looking at it on a case-by-case basis.”
For manufacturers, the combination of two wireless technologies means more development effort. However, it is not rocket science, as the latest generation of radio chips can often handle both protocols. I know of suppliers who could switch their Zigbee components to Thread at any time under software control if they wanted to. However, they do not communicate this fact publicly so as not to raise false expectations. After all, there is more to supporting Matter than just the wireless protocol. Hardware requirements are high and always good for surprises, as Bosch discovered during the course of development: “We had hoped to be able to give the first generation of our smart home controller a Matter update as well,“ says Managing Director Thess, “but that didn’t work out.”
First fridges with Matter support
Some restrictions affect suppliers without any blame at all, as another example from the Bosch family shows. The BSH household appliances, which is part of the group and includes brands such as Bosch, Gaggenau, Neff and Siemens, has been announcing compatible fridges for some time. Two Matter-compatible fridge-freezer combinations from the Bosch and Siemens brands were on display in Berlin. They are due to receive a software update in the first quarter of 2025, making basic settings such as on/off, temperature and operating modes available via Matter. The Smart Kitchen Dock from Siemens will then also serve as an intermediary between networked BSH appliances without Matter and the new smart home standard. It works as a Matter Bridge for this purpose.
The problem is that of the major platforms, only SmartThings has currently updated its hubs to Matter version 1.2. Anyone using Alexa, Apple Home or Google Home would not be able to control Matter-ready household appliances even if there were any. Refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers are still alien to these systems. Apple at least announced support for robot vacuum cleaners in iOS18. There may be more to come by 2025. However, the inconsistent pace of the platforms implementing new Matter versions is not exactly encouraging manufacturers to develop products for them.
Small, independent Matter Controllers
Perhaps a solution based on manufacturers’ initiative is emerging here too. Instead of waiting for the big players to make a move, companies are starting to develop their own Matter Controllers. A path that has always been envisaged in the standard – but has received little attention in the shadow of Apple, Google & Co. “Too complex … too expensive … hardly feasible for small companies” were the answers to my question about a controller that would be independent of the large corporations. Apart from the cool – but hardly available – Japanese Mui Board, little has happened in this area.
The fact that a Swedish start-up with 15 employees is daring to do is cause for hope. Shortcut Labs travelled from Stockholm to Berlin to present its smart Flic Buttons and the Twist knob as controllers. After a short beta phase, both products can now officially control Matter products via a Flic Hub. In a way, it’s an attempt to escape because the usual Matter platforms do not support a rotary dial like the Twist. And compared to the feature package of large, smart displays with voice control, buttons for turning and pressing are naturally limited. But it shows that Matter doesn’t need the infrastructure of big platforms. Vestel, for example, is also pursuing this path. The Turkish electronics and household appliance brand presented a television with an integrated Matter hub in Berlin. Just in case you don’t want a Samsung, LG or Google TV with their own integrated controller.
The standard is gaining ground
What became apparent in the exhibition halls around the historic Berlin Radio Tower: the initial Matter hype is over and normality has settled in. Although Chinese brands such as Changhong, Govee, Heiman or Meross were still recognizably promoting the term at their stands, the logo and name were otherwise used quite discreetly. For Samsung, the standard is a part of the SmartThings ecosystem and does not need to be emphasized. At most, a note saying “Matter-comaptible SmartThings Hub inside” appeared on a sign next to the Family Hub refrigerator on display.
Exceptions such as LG’s presentation prove the rule. Although the Korean competitor already has Matter-enabled TVs with the WebOS operating system on the market, it does not yet offer a cross-manufacturer home control system like SmartThings. This is probably one of the reasons why LG acquired the Dutch company Athom – known for its Homey smart home platform and the Homey Pro hub (link) – in summer 2024.
Athom’s expertise is now to be integrated into LG’s own Thinq platform. However, not using Homey Pro, but via a dedicated hub called Thinq ON (link). The new control center will be launched in Korea first, at the end of 2024, if everything works out. It will be Matter-certified using Wi-Fi and Thread as wireless standards. Because despite all the growing pains, disappointed expectations and delays, there seems to be no way around Matter in the long term.
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