New smart-home standard for Android and Google devices has arrived

Switch, lamp, router, display: all smart and all certified for Matter, as you can see by the logo of this smart home standard. — Photo: CSA/dpa

BERLIN: Google has now integrated Matter, a new standard for smart-home platforms, apps and devices, into many of its Nest devices, from smart-speakers to smart displays and routers.

Android smartphones and tablets are now also Matter-enabled, as long as they are running at least Android 8.1 and have Play services version 22.48.14 or higher.

Matter-enabled smart sockets, switches, door locks, sensors, and lamps can be set up and controlled using the Google Home app.

They’ll also work with iPhones and iPads as Apple's mobile operating system iOS has supported Matter since version 16.1. Devices that are Matter-enabled appear under settings and can be controlled in the Apple Home app.

Apple and Google are co-initiators of the Matter standard. Amazon, Samsung, LG, Signify and more than 280 other companies are also involved in the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organisation that developed the standard.

The goal of Matter is to end the notorious fragmentation and complexity of the smart-home sector by making devices and platforms compatible with each other. Until now, consumers have generally had to commit to one smart-home provider and its components.

However, thanks to the new standard, devices from different manufacturers will be able to be freely combined in the future. That’s assuming updates for the smart devices are available.

In some cases, the new standard will only be supported by the next generation of devices. And depending on the manufacturer and the device, Matter support may only be available for one operating system initially.

So some patience will be needed until more Matter-enabled devices reach the market. – dpa