Explainer
Are Matter smart home locks secure?
Matter isn't your smart lock's weakest link.
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.
Articles
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Explainer
5 Ways my home has improved since I embraced Matter
Matter convinced me to build a smart home, and I'm glad it did.
Explainer
What is Aliro, and how does it fit in with Matter?
The future of smart locks is Matter-compatible, thanks to Aliro.
Explainer
What is a Matter bridge?
Understanding the importance of a bridge to what matters.
Explainer
Here's how I decide which smart home devices are a safe investment
No one wants to regularly replace a light switch.
Explainer
I hope Matter devices are the "dumb" products of the future
Let's start with Matter and build from there.
Explainer
All of my Matter devices work as regular 'dumb' devices
My house still functions when the internet goes down: Does yours?
Explainer
Here's one added cost of Matter smart switches I didn't plan for
Make sure you're aware of everything you need before you finish planning your budget.
Explainer
The underdogs of the smart home: 5 Matter brands worth watching
Sometimes the biggest ideas that Matter come from the smallest companies.
Explainer
How Matter will help us solve our e-waste problem
Smart devices that don't depend on the cloud.
Explainer
How smart homes are becoming more energy efficient with Matter and AI
I love a smart home, but I value an energy-efficient one even more. Fortunately, we can have both.
Explainer
What is AES encryption, and can a Matter device be hacked?
Matter is designed to be private and secure, but that depends on how you use it.
How To
This is how I add Matter devices in Home Assistant
Home Assistant is great, once you know what you're doing. Let us help you get started.
Review
The Umbra Cono smart lamp shows the importance of Matter
Thanks to Matter, these unsupported lights are still a decent purchase.
Review
Home Assistant reviewed: Is this the Matter smart home solution we need?
It's not for the masses yet, but if you're ready to give Home Assistant a try, this is as easy as it gets.
Explainer
Matter and cloud services: The role of cloud platforms
Matter doesn't rely on the cloud, but many Matter-compatible devices and services do.
Explainer
Why your Matter smart home needs newer, mesh Wi-Fi
Traditional Wi-Fi routers are units that you stick in a single place in your home. Times have changed.
Explainer
The 5 biggest smart home trends that Matter is enabling in 2025
If Matter is the future of the smart home, these are the trends you should be following.
Review
Honeywell Home Smart X2S Thermostat review: Is this a smart thermostat for the masses?
The Honeywell Home Smart X2S Thermostat looks functional enough, but does its Matter-compatibility deliver the smart home integrations you need?
Review
Switchbot Motion Sensor review: an affordable automation building block
Compared to some of the alternative Matter-compatible motion sensors, SwitchBot's is rather basic. But does this mean you should't buy it?