I added a Govee Matter light strip to IKEA’s new Xbox gaming side table using a few 3D-printed mounts, creating a hidden ambient glow without drilling holes or permanently modifying the furniture.
Apple Home can show how much energy your Matter devices are using in real time, track historical consumption, and even connect to supported utilities — if you know where to look.
After six months replacing almost every IKEA Zigbee device in my home with Matter-over-Thread alternatives, I found better flexibility and lower prices — but not a dramatic improvement in speed or reliability.
The Lafaer LWR02 combines Matter over Thread, PIR, mmWave radar and environmental sensing in a compact battery-powered sensor, but its stationary detection is much more dependable in small rooms than larger spaces.
Amazon’s new Echo range offers Matter, Thread and Zigbee alongside Alexa+, making it a compelling alternative to HomePod mini 2 — provided you’re comfortable with Amazon’s approach to ads and privacy.
Home Assistant 2026.11 brings Matter cameras and two-way talk to the frontend, adds the built-in Marketplace, and expands support for climate, covers, lighting, and sensors.
Govee’s Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro use a clever dual-light design to create richer, more dramatic effects across your home. Installation can be frustrating, but the results are worth the effort.
I tested Apple’s $149 HomePod mini 2 ahead of launch, and while its audio is merely solid, fast Matter and Thread performance makes it one of Apple Home’s most useful hubs.
Thread isn't just another smart home protocol. These seven devices show how its low power consumption and mesh networking can make a difference.
After moving into a new apartment, I replaced almost all of my Zigbee gear with Matter devices to see how an all-Matter smart home holds up in everyday use.
Ubiquiti’s next UniFi Wi-Fi 7 access point appears to include a dedicated Thread radio, bringing Matter networking directly into its wall-mounted Wi-Fi hardware.
Aqara has expanded its Matter lighting range with a rare E14 bulb and multicolor T2 light strip, both supporting Thread and Zigbee.
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds Matter 1.6.1 groundwork, two-way camera audio, new Aqara and IKEA integrations, and faster device status updates.
UGREEN’s SynCare Indoor Cam ID500 Pro combines 4K video, Matter 1.5.1 controls, local recording, and on-premise AI through the new HomeAgent hub.
Shelly’s first mmWave presence sensor can track up to 10 people across 10 zones, with Matter support, local control, and camera-free automation.
Apple Home is gaining five important upgrades, including NFC setup, Matter Binding, stronger Thread support, easier Wi-Fi changes, and better camera controls.
Battery-powered Matter sensors made my smart home more capable, but once several started dying at the same time, the hidden maintenance cost became obvious.
LEDVANCE has added 116 Matter-over-Wi-Fi devices to Works with Home Assistant, giving users one of the program’s largest certified smart lighting lineups.
Apple has unveiled HomeView alongside a new Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2, and a wider range of Matter accessories for Apple Home.
UniFi Network 11 adds Matter device monitoring and Thread network diagnostics, giving smart home users better visibility into device connectivity, signal strength, battery levels, and network topology without replacing their existing Matter controllers.