Matter continues to improve with latest update
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The Connectivity Standards Alliance has finalized the Matter 1.4 specification, releasing it to accessory makers and platforms like Apple Home with several new device types and improvements.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is the governing body that develops the Matter specification. It’s a member-led organization that includes Apple, Google, Samsung, and countless others.
Matter is intended to be a unifying standard that allows products to work seamlessly across multiple platforms, like Apple Home — formerly HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and more.
Until now, the CSA has released updates twice a year, adding new features and improvements twice a year. We’ll be getting the Matter 1.2 update in October 2023 and Matter 1.3 in May 2024.
What’s New in Matter 1.4
New in Matter 1.4 is support for home routers and access points, commonly referred to as HRAPs. This not only allows you to control HRAP devices through Matter apps, but also ensures that they work well with Matter accessories.
Any Matter HRAP device will act as a Wi-Fi access point and Thread edge router. They will also help share Thread network credentials.
The 1.4 update makes it easier to add devices to multiple ecosystems, such as smart lights that can be controlled by HomePod and the Google Nest smart speaker. They can now be added to multiple ecosystems automatically.
Finally, there’s a big push toward energy management. New devices and features include:
- Solar inverters, hybrid solar systems, and solar panel arrays
- Batteries, battery packs, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) that return energy to the grid
- Heat pumps
- Water heaters
- Scheduling for electric vehicle chargers
- Scheduling and preset modes for thermostats
- New wall devices that supply power to wired devices like lights and fans
Matter 1.4 Availability
It's unclear when new devices or ecosystems will support Matter 1.4. Technically, Apple has not yet added support for Matter 1.2.
Like every year, the annual Consumer Electronics Show will be held in January, but it seems that it is still early for the launch of new devices. Since the specification has just been finalized, there is not much time left for accessory makers or ecosystem developers.
Compatible devices may not be available until 2026. Rumor has it that Apple will make a big push into the smart space in 2025.
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