Setting up a smart home can be daunting, and in many cases is something to get into slowly, one piece of kit at a time. But when so much Matter smart home gear is available at a discount, as it is this week thanks to Prime Day, if you have the budget for it, it’s a good time to make a few key purchases.
The beauty of Matter is that you’re not locked to a specific brand. This means that you can automate devices that the brand doesn’t produce, or superior smart home gear from competitors.
I’ve already started on the road to a Matter smart home. But if I was using Amazon Prime Day 2025 to grab some bargains and get my first Matter smart home gear, I’d set a $200 budget and opt for these pieces of kit.
Matter controller: Aqara Hub M100, -20% off
You cannot set up a Matter smart home network without a Matter controller, and the Aqara Hub M100 is affordable with or without Prime Day.
Aqara Hub M100
The Aqara Hub M100 is a compact, entry-level Matter Controller with Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, and USB-A power, serving as a Thread Border Router and Matter bridge for Aqara and third-party devices.
Although Aqara has its own alternatives with support for more connections and better range (such as the Smart Hub M3), if you’re kicking off your smart home on a budget, you should start here. While our Aqara Hub M100 review found the Matter controller setup to be frustrating, it notes that it is an “excellent starter kit, with a Matter bridge, Matter controller, and Thread border router.”
Smart bulbs: WiZ LED Smart Bulbs, -40% off
The easiest way to kick off some automations in your home is with smart bulbs. The WiZ LED Smart Bulbs have motion detection and 16 million colors.
I think this is the number one thing everyone can do after setting up a Matter controller. With the bulbs connected, and a quick app or voice command to turn them on and off, not only do you get a good idea of how the Matter smart home is an improvement over the previous, fragmented experience, it also looks good to anyone watching.
Basically, if you need to sell the concept of a Matter smart home to your spouse or other cohabitants, this is the most affordable option.
Smart plug: Tapo Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug, -62% off
Another easy win to impress your spouse or friends in your personal smart home revolution is to introduce one or more smart plugs. Devices like the Tapo Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug essentially make dumb hardware (that is, tech without connectivity) smart (bringing control over the power supply online).
TP-Link Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug
The TP-Link Tapo Mini Plug P125M is a compact Wi-Fi-enabled smart plug that supports voice and remote control, automatic shutoff, and integrates with Matter for compatibility with other smart devices.
Another option that will raise eyebrows among smart home unbelievers, a smart plug can add remote control to heated clothes airers, fans, plug-in lamps, portable radiators, and more. If it plugs into the wall and cannot be programmed, a Matter Wi-Fi plug will make it smart.
Temperature and humidity sensor: Arre Temperature Sensor, -20% off
Many other Matter-compatible sensors are available, and some of these can detect temperature, humidity, and even air quality. If this is something you feel you need in your home, the Arre Temperature Sensor is a good place to start.
arre Temperature Sensor
A smart environmental sensor that measures temperature, humidity, and air pressure with Matter and Thread support for seamless home automation.
Sensors like this can work in multiple ways in a Matter smart home automation. For example, a warm day can prompt the activation of a fan, or keeping blinds closed. A cold day, coupled with thermostat integration, will prompt heating systems to be enabled.
Door sensor: Eve Smart Contact Sensor, -17%
If you have a very small budget, one or two smart door or window sensors can really assist with automation. Devices like the Eve Smart Contact Sensor can be used to initiate one or more automations, anything from heating or cooling a room to prompting a robovac clean-up.
Eve Door & Window
Eve Door & Window is a security device that offers real-time status updates on your doors or windows, integrates seamlessly with Matter for cross-platform compatibility, and ensures privacy with local connectivity and no tracking, all powered by cutting-edge Thread networking technology.
Again, this is a great way to get affordable and impressive automations, suitable for integrating with lights and heating. And, of course, you get to check if your doors and windows are closed properly.
Other Matter smart home gear to consider
Once you’ve got the basics in place, consider some of the following smart gear.
I’ve aimed to pitch the items above within a sensible $200 budget, which should be enough to get your Matter smart home off the ground. But if you’ve got more cash spare for this, you might also consider some higher ticket items.
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Robot vacuum cleaner: Tapo LiDAR Smart Navigation Robot Vacuum and Mop, currently -33% on Prime Day.
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Smart thermostat: Something like the meross Smart Thermostat, which has a -30% saving on Prime Day. (Note that European and US thermostats use a different radio system, so take care when buying).
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RGB smart lighting system: Govee AI Sync Box 2, a minimal-latency system that complements your TV -- but also see our roundup of the best Matter-compatible smart lighting kits.
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Air purifier: SwitchBot 4 in 1 Air Purifier Table (above), currently -43% for Prime Day.
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Smart lock: Eufy Smart Lock E31, now -38%.
Each of these items can revolutionize the way you live, from illuminating and securing your property to purifying the air in your home based on specific sensor-detected events... to cleaning the floor as soon as you’ve left the room, or property, or gone to bed.
If this is your first time dipping a toe into the water of smart home tech, you’ve got involved at just the right time. Thanks to Matter, things are just getting interesting.
