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.
Should you embrace the smart home platform that comes with your phone? We take a look at Google Home and Apple Home.
A smartwatch is like a smart speaker that's always on your wrist, plus it has a screen, making it perfect for controlling your Matter smart home.
Matter doesn't currently add much to air purifiers, but compatibility is still a feature worth having.
Thanks to Samsung's popularity, SmartThings is the easiest way to dabble with most Matter devices on the market.
You can control any Matter-enabled gadget using the phone in your hand, but that's only the beginning.
Thinking about buying a Google Nest device for your smart home? These Matter-compatible devices are a good option to future-proof your home.
Google Home is a viable option for a smart home, but its Matter support is woefully behind.
There's no reason smart home tech has to stay inside your home. Whenever you're setting up new lights or sensors outside your home, check for Matter-compatibility.
You could buy a smart plug, or opt for a more permanent solution with a smart outlet. But which option is best for you?
When you're buying a smart light, does Matter matter? More than you might think.