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.
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.
Installing Matter smart switches involves unexpected hurdles: complex 3/4-way wiring, crowded multi-gang boxes, tricky neutral wire bundles, and hidden costs like wall plates.
Smart switch installation is manageable for homeowners: the process is simpler than expected, but identifying line/load wires and ensuring a neutral wire is essential for Matter switches.
TP-Link Tapo smart switches, chosen for Matter compatibility, low cost, and hub-free Wi-Fi control, prove to be the best-reviewed, unbranded option for whole-home smart lighting.
As an open and community-backed project, Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition is impressive, but it isn't without its quirks—or its bugs.
Adding a Matter smart bulb with Home Assistant is a great way to kick off your smart home
The smartest things don't need to wait for your commands.
Matter isn't your smart lock's weakest link.
Matter convinced me to build a smart home, and I'm glad it did.
The future of smart locks is Matter-compatible, thanks to Aliro.
Understanding the importance of a bridge to what matters.
No one wants to regularly replace a light switch.
Let's start with Matter and build from there.
My house still functions when the internet goes down: Does yours?
Make sure you're aware of everything you need before you finish planning your budget.