What Is Matter and How Does It Work?

Smart technology is becoming more prominent in homes, meaning that understanding Matter is a great way to help you decide what smart home devices and automation are best for you. Discover the benefits of Matter and how it works.

What Is Matter Smart Home?

Matter is smart home technology that works in any home with differing products, unlike similar technologies such as Zigbee. It aims to improve interoperability and compatibility between devices that are already in the home, such as:

Apple Siri
Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Samsung SmartThings

Technologies such as the Smart Home and Smart Home Standard can work with supported Aqara smart home devices such as:

How Does Matter Smart Home Work?

The Matter Smart Home operates by using a standardized protocol that allows numerous smart devices to communicate with each other seamlessly, enabling them to be controlled via one single app or a voice assistant, while maintaining local connectivity and secure communication through its encryption, regardless of where they belong.

Matter’s first protocols run via Wi-Fi and Thread network layers and Bluetooth Low Energy when it is being set up, after this point, you can choose the voice assistant and app you want to use; currently there is no central Matter app. Using voice assistant and smart home devices that you already own, means that using Matter creates a seamless and unified home experience that allows convenience, and adds peace of mind.

Do I Need A Hub for Matter Devices?

You don’t need a separate hub for Matter devices that use Wi-Fi or Ethernet, however, you will still need a Matter controller, which would be compatible with a smartphone or smart speaker set up to control your devices. Devices such as a Google Nest, or Amazon Alexa can act as a Matter hub, if they are Matter-enabled, meaning that you can connect all your devices through just one hub.

For the best experience, you will need a Thread border router, the Aqara Smart Hub M3 can act as both a Matter controller and Thread border router.

What Is The Difference Between Matter and Zigbee?

Zigbee and Matter are smart home protocols that differ within the OSI layers they operate on, which affects their communication and interoperability. Matter is intended to be the future standard for all smart homes, while Zigbee is already well-established and widely used.

Similarities

Both Matter and Zigbee are both backed by the CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance).
Matter and Zigbee both focus on creating a network that is low-power and energy efficient.

Differences

Matter is compatible with all forms of Wi-Fi, including Bluetooth, and Threat, whereas Zigbee is only compatible with other products.
Matter is supported by tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Amazon, and is intended to be more secure than Zigbee, with more efficient communication.
Zigbee is a communication protocol, while Matter is a higher-level standard that defines how devices using alternative protocols like Zigbee can interact with each other.