Matter has spent the last few years promising to make the smart home easier. However, anyone who has tried to set up connected devices across multiple ecosystems knows that there is still a lot of conflict involved.
The newly announced update for Matter 1.6 aims to address some of those pain points. It introduces changes that can make smart devices easily install and share across platforms. Also, devices may be a little smarter about how they respond to automation.
Another big improvement is the new NFC-based setup process that does away with Bluetooth altogether. So far, tapping a Matter device with your phone can still initiate a Bluetooth Low Energy handshake in the background. This created another potential point of failure if the connection were to go down.
With Matter 1.6, the entire authentication process is possible via NFC. Essentially, that means users can pair compatible devices before they’re installed. For something like a smart light switch or ceiling seal, that’s a surprisingly useful development. Setup can be done while the device is still in the box rather than being wired to the wall.
The update also addresses one of the most common frustrations in today’s smart homes: integrating multiple ecosystems.
Matter 1.6 introduces a feature called Joint Fabric, which allows platforms like Apple Home, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings to securely manage the same Matter network together. Rather than repeatedly sharing devices between apps and platforms, homeowners will be able to set up a shared Matter space once. Then they can access devices from their preferred ecosystem.
In households where one person lives in an Apple Home while the other prefers a Google Home, that can be a significant improvement in quality of life.
Thermostats also receive a common-sense rating.
Instead of smart home platforms issuing direct commands that quickly pull out settings, Matter 1.6 introduces a new “Thermostat Suggestions” model. Smart hubs can now send recommendations rather than instructions. As a result, the thermostat itself can determine whether automation makes sense based on current conditions.
That can help avoid situations where the energy-saving mode unexpectedly overrides the manually selected temperature or conflicts with demand response systems.
The update also expands support for security-related devices. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can now report if they are properly installed. In addition, security sensors can share historical logs across connected platforms, making it easy to see exactly when events occurred.
As with all Matter releases, it’s worth remembering that support won’t appear overnight. Matter 1.6 was released to manufacturers and platform developers first. This means that new features will gradually arrive with firmware updates and future hardware launches.
Still, while previous updates of Matter have mostly focused on adding new device categories, Matter 1.6 feels different. The emphasis here is on eliminating everyday annoyances, and that may end up being as important as adding support for the next wave of smart home gadgets.