A lifelong storyteller and gadget nerd, Bertel has spent his entire adult career immersed in consumer tech. He covered news for Android Police during the wild smartphone boom years of 2013-2016, helped readers make use of technology at none other than MakeUseOf from 2014-2025, and continues to write passionately about our digital tools and companions over at How-To Geek. Matter gave him the confidence to build a smart home of his own, and he's happy to share that enthusiam as part of the Matter Alpha team. When not writing about tech, you can find him playing board games with family and friends, binge reading graphic novels, or enjoying leisurely meditations out in the woods.
A monitor can be a smart way to set up a dashboard for your smart home.
There isn't yet a compelling reason to control your smart home in extended reality, but the technology is already here.
As is often the case, the hype doesn't always match reality.
For IKEA's line of Matter devices, what's on the sticker isn't the full price.
Matter-compatible lights can do so much, but not always via Matter.
Some privacy is better than none.
A smart home doesn't have to live in the clouds.
More smart home products are exposed to the elements than you might think.
This temperature and humidity sensor does everything I want it to, and nothing more.
Buy this smart remote. Buy more than one.
Yes, IKEA, take my money.
This Matter bridge connects your Lockly lock to your smart home platform of choice, but having to rely on a separate component does come with its downsides.
Features are important, but so is the type of battery that enables it all to happen.
I took a chance on many Matter products this year, and my home is better off for it.
Not every Matter product I purchased this year was a winner, but these four have become cherished additions to my home.
Matter isn't only for apps and voice assistants.
Lockly Secure Link adapters add Matter compatibility to existing Wi-Fi smart locks, enabling unified control and automation within major smart home platforms, despite minor limitations.
Matter smart switches keep regular function (low friction) but have glowing lights; main benefit is checking all lights at a glance for under $1,000 total cost.
There are many reasons to want smart devices, but notifications may not be one of them after all.
It's the smart features that really Matter.