The fact that Matter is finally beginning to deliver on its promises is excellent news for your smart home.

      From the start, Matter aimed to merge the various isolated platforms of smart home technology into a single protocol. Its goal was to facilitate interaction between different ecosystems; for instance, a device compatible with Alexa could communicate with Google Home and vice versa. The protocol was initially launched in 2019 under the name Connected Home over IP (CHIP) and was rebranded to Matter in 2021.

      In conjunction with the Matter rebranding, the Zigbee Alliance — one of the founding members of the collaboration alongside Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung — changed its name to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The CSA originally planned for Matter to be launched in 2020, but various delays postponed its release to late 2021, and then eventually to fall 2022, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as the main reason for the setbacks.

      Matter version 1.0 officially launched in October 2022, introducing support for devices such as smart lights, thermostats, door locks, and blinds, among others. While useful, it didn't deliver the significant advantages initially anticipated during its development. At the time of the launch, existing smart home standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave had much broader support, with most devices not being compatible with Matter.

      Naturally, a range of Matter-compatible products emerged following its release, yet many smart home users remained limited to incompatible devices or had to invest in new products. Due to Matter being relatively new and few having had hands-on experience with it, troubleshooting smart home issues proved to be quite challenging.

      Since then, Matter has received several updates. Version 1.1 enhanced the initial release but didn’t introduce many new features. Version 1.2 offered more significant improvements, including the addition of nine new device types. Version 1.3 introduced energy reporting capabilities and support for EV charging. Finally, version 1.4 expanded compatibility to more devices, such as solar panels and water heaters.

      Each of these updates moved Matter closer to its promised capabilities, but it’s the recent launch of Matter version 1.4.1 — its first “dot” release — that significantly transformed how users engage with their devices. While the CSA categorized it as a minor update, it seems to be one of the most beneficial enhancements to Matter thus far.

      I have spent considerable time working with smart home devices, and this historical overview serves to emphasize that while Matter has great potential, much of it remains unrealized. Today’s release marks an important step towards improvements that average users will actually notice. Interoperability is essential — in fact, I believe smart home technology would stall without it — but many consumers will simply purchase a device that functions without fully grasping how Matter benefits them.

      Version 1.4.1 introduced three new features that will have a direct effect on everyday smart home users, especially regarding the setup of new devices. Among these, the ability to set up multiple devices at once by scanning a single QR code stands out as particularly advantageous. Users will no longer need to awkwardly maneuver to scan the QR code on the side of each smart bulb, only to repeat the effort for every individual bulb. Instead, scanning the packaging will suffice.

      Another feature, officially termed Onboarding Info in NFC Tag, allows users to bypass the QR code entirely and set up a device simply by bringing their phone close to it. It utilizes near-field communication to create a connection. Several manufacturers, including LIFX and most Apple HomeKit devices, have been employing this technology for some time, although its adoption across the industry has been limited.

      The final feature has the potential to significantly alter how I manage my smart home daily. Typically, I use the manufacturer’s app for device setup, allowing me to agree to terms and conditions and handle issues as they arise, rather than navigating through a hub app like Amazon Alexa or Google Home for setup. According to the CSA, the Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF) feature “supports the display of a manufacturer’s terms and conditions directly in the commissioner app.”

      In other words, users can now set up devices from a centralized location without needing to switch between different applications. There's no longer a need to toggle between the Hue app and the Alexa app to troubleshoot why one bulb isn’t functioning; all pertinent information is shared across the apps.

      Of course, these advantages depend on companies' willingness to collaborate, but this is a manageable challenge. An increasing number of companies are joining the CSA to produce Matter-certified products. The Connectivity Standards Alliance boasts over 600 members, and many more companies work with the CSA even if they are not directly affiliated.

      It has taken about five years, but this slight advancement has rekindled my enthusiasm for Matter and what it can ultimately offer.