Top 11 Matter Smart Home Products for a Unified Experience

The smart home landscape is ever-evolving, with new devices and technologies constantly emerging. One of the most significant advancements in recent years is the introduction of the Matter standard. This open-source protocol aims to unify the smart home experience, allowing devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly. If you're looking to upgrade your smart home or build a new one, understanding which devices support Matter is essential. Here, we present the best 11 Matter smart home products currently available, synthesizing information from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive overview.

Understanding Matter and Its Benefits

Before delving into specific products, it's important to understand what Matter is and why it's a game-changer for smart homes. Matter is an open-source, internet-based protocol designed to make smart home devices more interoperable. This means that devices from various manufacturers can be easily supported across different platforms, ideally controlled by a single app. Matter-compatible devices come in two flavors: controllers, such as smart speakers and displays, which use Matter to control certified products, like smart lights and plugs. This unified approach eliminates the frustration of managing multiple apps and hubs.

Credit: fs.npstatic.com

The benefits of Matter are numerous. It simplifies setup, increases compatibility, enhances responsiveness and reliability, and enables cross-platform control. Devices communicate locally over your home network (via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Thread), rather than relying on cloud services, making them more secure and faster. Furthermore, the mesh network capabilities of Thread, often used in conjunction with Matter, create a more robust and reliable smart home system.

Top Matter Controllers

Matter controllers are essential for managing your smart home ecosystem. These devices act as a central hub for connecting and controlling your Matter-enabled products. Here are some of the best 11 Matter smart home products that act as controllers:

Google Nest Hub Max

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Google Nest Hub Max is a versatile smart display that serves as an excellent Matter controller. It allows you to check in on your house, make video calls, play music, and control all your Matter-enabled devices. It's essentially the epicenter of your smart home, also functioning as a mini speaker with a 30W subwoofer.

Google Nest Wifi Pro

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Google Nest Wifi Pro is a premium mesh router that not only provides excellent Wi-Fi coverage but also acts as a Matter controller. It integrates Matter and Thread, making it a solid starting point for building a curated smart home device network. With its Wi-Fi 6E capabilities and a coverage area of up to 2,200 square feet per node, it's a powerful and reliable choice.

Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen)

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen) is a budget-friendly option that doesn't compromise on functionality. It's a dual-band smart speaker that easily pairs with Matter devices, offering quality sound, a display, and the ability to expand Eero Wi-Fi networks. Its built-in microphone allows for voice control of paired devices.

Amazon Echo Show 15

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Amazon Echo Show 15 is a large, wall-mountable smart display that integrates Alexa, Fire TV, Thread, and Matter. Its built-in camera can detect users and load personalized information, schedules, and lists. It's a comprehensive smart home control center.

Google Nest Audio

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Google Nest Audio is a small yet powerful smart speaker that delivers surprisingly loud and high-quality sound. While it requires a wired connection, it's portable enough to move from room to room. It's a capable Matter controller for your smart home.

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Apple TV 4K is a high-quality media streaming device that also functions as a Matter controller. The A15 Bionic chip ensures smooth performance, and its user-friendly interface makes it a great option for those already in the Apple ecosystem.

Amazon Echo Studio

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Amazon Echo Studio is a powerful smart speaker that delivers immersive 3D sound. It also has room adaptation technology to fine-tune the audio. With built-in Alexa and Matter support, it's a versatile option for controlling your entire smart home.

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation)

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Apple HomePod (2nd generation) is a premium smart speaker that delivers high-quality surround sound with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. It also features automatic bass correction, room sensing, and real-time tuning. Besides its audio capabilities, it's also a Matter controller.

Top Matter Products

Once you have a Matter controller, you’ll need Matter-certified products to create a cohesive smart home. Here are some of the best 11 Matter smart home products:

Google Nest Thermostat

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Google Nest Thermostat is a user-friendly smart thermostat that helps you keep your energy bills low. It is the only Nest thermostat that currently supports the Matter ecosystem, making it an ideal choice for a modern smart home.

Eve Energy Smart Plug

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Eve Energy smart plug combines a smart plug and power meter with Matter compatibility. It connects directly to your smart home hub or app, allowing you to control lights, appliances, and devices directly over Thread. It also tracks the energy consumption of each device.

Nanoleaf Matter A19 Smart Bulb

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Nanoleaf Matter A19 smart bulb is one of the first Matter-compatible smart bulbs. It offers streamlined smart lighting with voice control and customization via the Nanoleaf app. It also comes in various formats including BR30, GU10, and recessed ceiling downlighting.

TP-Link Tapo P125M Smart Plug

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The TP-Link Tapo P125M is a reasonably priced smart plug that supports Matter. It's user-friendly and compact, so it won't block adjacent outlets. It uses the Tapo app for easy control.

Wiz Squire Smart Light

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Wiz Squire is a portable lamp that offers customization with brightness adjustment and 16 million colors. It works with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant commands and is a great choice for adding versatile mood lighting to any room.

Nanoleaf Matter Lightstrip

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Nanoleaf Matter Lightstrip is a high-quality lightstrip that adds premium mood lighting to any room. It's easy to use and offers excellent light output.

Eve Door & Window Sensor

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Eve Door & Window Sensor is a premium two-pack that ensures your sensors maintain support with upcoming smart home security systems in the Matter ecosystem. Its integrated Thread router makes it compatible with advanced systems.

Aqara Smart Lock U100

Credit: static1.anpoimages.com

The Aqara Smart Lock U100 is a biometric lock that supports remote unlocking/locking, stores 50 unique fingerprints, features an auto-lock function, and is compatible with various voice assistants. It can also generate one-time passcodes locally without needing Wi-Fi.

The Future of Matter

The Matter protocol is still relatively new, and there have been some growing pains, with some companies pulling back on their initial promises. However, the potential for a truly unified and interoperable smart home is significant. As more devices become Matter-certified, the benefits of this standard will become more apparent, making smart home technology more user-friendly and accessible to everyone. The best 11 Matter smart home products listed here represent a great starting point for anyone looking to build a seamless and future-proof smart home.