Matter 1.4 wants to make make Matter matter again… let’s hope this is the reset we’ve been waiting for

Matter 1.4 is here to save the day… at least that’s what the team at the Connectivity Standards Alliance will be hoping. The smart home standard has endured a rocky couple of years since it launched in late 2022.

As will all Matter updates, the latest standard adds a bunch of new device categories to the mix – although still no support for security cameras, sigh – but it’s behind the front facing tech where the juicy updates are to be found.

The biggest change, and the one I hope makes Matter a lot less of a mess than it currently is, is Enhanced Multi-Admin, which is designed to “improve the multi-ecosystem user experience.”

And, boy, does it need improving.

Rather than the brand and ecosystem agnostic utopia we were all promised with the advent of Matter, the process of getting smart tech working across multiple platforms so far has been, well… absolutely terrible.

Have a look at my Govee Light Strip M1 review for a good example of just how badly Matter has been failing so far on this front.

In fact, in a lot of recent reviews where a device is Matter compatible, I’ve basically been ignoring the Matter angle as much as possible. I’ll mention that cross platform compatibility is – in theory – possible, but there’s no way I’m wasting any more time going down that rabbit hole, nor recommending anyone do so.

Matter 1.4, with its Enhanced Multi-Admin improvements, could well tempt me to though. The idea is, rather than the tedious situation we have currently, existing and new devices should be able to connect to multiple ecosystems automatically, meaning that a device paired with one smart home platform can appear on another without any extra steps.

This aligns more closely with the seamless, cross-platform vision Matter initially promised and should mean that households with multiple systems – think Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings, and where people use different branded smartphones – should be a lot more autonomous and intuitive.

This feature would make it possible for a smart light, for example, to be set up on Apple Home and be immediately available to control through Alexa or Google Home on an Android phone, without the complex pairing process currently in place, which often means jumping in and out of apps.

I’m pretty sure this is what the original multi-admin promised but I’ll let that slide.

Thread updates

Another key background update is that Matter 1.4 is looking to make Thread a bit less chaotic to users than currently.

The Thread Group also launched a new standard recently – coincidentally also v1.4 – that aimed to address the problem of multiple thread routers and networks being created across different branded devices.

The CSA is on board to help with this issue too, with Matter 1.4 able to store and share Thread network credentials on a new device area for the standard: Home Routers and Access Points (HRAP).

Routers with Matter certification could provide a foundational infrastructure for a Matter-based smart home, combining Wi-Fi access with Thread border router functionality, allowing Matter devices to connect seamlessly across Wi-Fi and Thread networks without needing separate hardware.

As with anything Matter though, the CSA is reliant on Big Tech to actually update their Matter efforts in line with what’s available.

Given that we’re only just starting to see green shoots from the launch of Matter 1.2 last October, then I’m not holding my breath for anything to happen in the near future.

It took until June of this year for Samsung to become the first major ecosystem to adopt Matter 1.2, with Amazon and Apple following in August and September respectively.

Here’s hoping that the major Matter players all adopt the new back end stuff sharpish though as it really could make a massive difference.

New Matter 1.4 device types

On the device side, Matter 1.4 introduces some new categories, namely solar power devices such as inverters, individual and panel arrays, and hybrid solar/battery systems, batteries (battery walls, storage units, and Battery Energy Storage Systems), heat pumps and water heaters.

There are also improvements for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), thermostats and device energy management.

With these updates, the CSA is responding to increasing demand for sustainable smart home solutions that offer more control over household energy consumption.

For many users, energy management is a key reason to invest in smart home technology, as it can help reduce electricity bills and support a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Back in September at IFA, Chris LaPré, Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance told us that household smart energy management was a key focus for the platform.

“This is where 1.4 ischarging to go,” LaPré explained. “We’re adding heat pumps, we’re adding solar panels and pricing, and we’ve got battery walls on a longer trajectory as well.

“Think about once those devices are all done, basically the whole home energy management system where a little app, with maybe a little AI, can really start to save the user money,” he explained.

“Things like charging your car only when the solar panels are working well, using the battery wall for time shifting of appliances, and you can really start to save a lot of money, even with relatively dumb systems. And you don’t need to change your behavior whatsoever.”

With Matter 1.4, energy management goes beyond monitoring to enable devices to adjust usage based on factors like time of day and peak energy demand, potentially reducing costs and grid strain.

Devices can now shift their operations to off-peak hours, adjust energy use according to real-time grid conditions, or even prioritize cleaner energy sources.

What I think

The idea of Matter has always been to make the smart home experience, and the management of that experience, as hassle-free as possible with the Matter sticker on the box meaning everything should ‘just work.’

That hasn’t been the case at all thus far though, but Matter 1.4 could well be a major turning point for the standard.

Many of the foundational issues are seemingly being addressed and there are meaningful improvements for the likes of energy management and network integrations, and the update sets the stage for more cohesive, user-friendly, and sustainable smart homes.

But whether Matter 1.4 will live up to its promise depends on the willingness of device makers and platforms to adopt its features; a challenge the CSA has grappled with since day one.

It’s up to major players like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, as well as device manufacturers, to bring these features into users’ hands and help to fulfil Matter’s potential as the unifying standard for smart homes.