Updated Matter 1.2 Specification Supports New Device Types and Brings Performance Improvements

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) that Apple is a member of today announced that an updated Matter 1.2 specification is available for device makers and platforms. Matter 1.2 adds support for additional device types and brings improvements to Matter. Matter is a smart home protocol that allows devices to work across multiple platforms, including HomeKit.

matter update
With Matter 1.2, Matter support can be added to refrigerators, standalone room air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry machines, robotic vacuums, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, air quality sensors, air purifiers, and fans.

Apple's ‌HomeKit‌ supports some of these device types such as air quality monitors, air purifiers, and smoke alarms, but Apple may need to implement ‌HomeKit‌ updates to add Matter 1.2 support.

Matter 1.2 also adds improvements for multi-unit switches and multi-light fixtures, along with semantic tags and improvements for device operational states, which should give device makers more options for more complex smart home products.

According to the CSA, Matter 1.2 includes enhancements to testing and certification, which will allow companies to bring products to market faster.

Matter 1.2 certification is open as of now, and the Matter 1.2 devices and improvements are expected to be available on the market later this year. More information on the changes can be found on the CSA website.

Tag: Matter

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Top Rated Comments

bradman83 Avatar
22 months ago

I still don’t understand how these Smart home standards work.

So are matter devices just automatically compatible with HomeKit (assuming it’s a device type HomeKit supports) or must the device still explicitly support HomeKit as well?

I’ve just resorted to using my Homebridge server on anything that doesn’t have native homekit support

Matter devices are compatible with anything else that speaks Matter. It's that simple. But no, they don't automatically support HomeKit — they can be controlled via the Home app though.
EmotionalSnow's answer is correct but I think some context is needed.

HomeKit is a framework and protocol for smart devices to communicate with Apple's proprietary Home app. Similar frameworks and protocols exist to communicate with Google, Amazon, and Samsung's respective home apps.

Smart devices have to be separately programmed to speak to Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung's respective ecosystems. Many devices settle on just Google and Amazon's.

Matter was developed as as sort of single, universal language that allows a smart device to speak to all of the major smart home platforms. Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung's apps speak both their native protocols and they speak Matter. As a result smart device manufacturers just need to program their devices to use Matter and the device can support all of the major smart home platforms.

So Matter is not HomeKit because HomeKit is just a protocol. Both Matter and HomeKit speak natively to Apple's Home app ecosystem, without the need for add-ons like HomeBridge.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Squuiid Avatar
22 months ago

I’m in the same boat. My Hue Bridge is giving me the option to upgrade, but if I do, it’ll reset all my scenes and settings. Why would I want to do this? I have 46 bulbs in my home!
Don’t do it. I did, and regret it, as do many others on Reddit. Seriously, just don’t.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boss.king Avatar
22 months ago
Whoever picked that typeface needs to go to jail.



Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
22 months ago
Great. I’ve always wanted to be able to check that my fridge exists without going to the kitchen.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdawgnoonan Avatar
22 months ago
I wonder how big the market is for people who closely follow these developments and buy new products accordingly. I believe that it is likely small and will stay small for some time as most of these devices are not things most people upgrade often. For instance, in my newly constructed house for which I bought all new medium to high end so called "Smart" appliances in early 2022 there is no chance at all that I will be replacing any of my so-called "Smart" appliances any time soon. If my refrigerator, oven, microswave, dishwasher, clothes washer or clothes dryer live for 20 years then I will be using them for 20 years. I simply do not understand the lifecycle of these standards or how in the long run they really even matter except for maybe for extremely niche (and likely rich) consumers (of which there really are not that many).
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
22 months ago

Apple already “blew it” in the “smarthome/automation” market, failing to produce a cohesive product. I think they’re too late to catch up now.

Amazon dominates with Alexa — but has somehow managed to make it a colossal financial failure, reportedly losing the company $10 Billion last year alone ('https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-alexa-business-failure-10-bn-losses-2022-11')!
While you are technically correct, most of Amazon's smart home devices rely on web services to operate. If the Internet or device maker goes out of business, your smart home device will become "dumb" or inoperable.

Apple insisted on smart home devices to talk to their Home hub directly, so they can operate even when the vendor goes out of business or without the Internet. Matter also share the same benefit.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)