Eight highlights from Matter Open Day and GILE

There have been some exciting events recently where vendors showcased their latest Matter innovations, including the Matter Open Day hosted by the Connectivity Standards Alliance Member Group China (CMGC) and the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition.

At Matter Open Day, over 50 vendors, alliances, chipmakers, and testing organizations gathered to exchange the latest technical advancements and demonstrate new products.

Matter Alpha had the chance to tour the event, and here are some of the top discoveries.

Thread network sharing demo

Thread Group and Google demonstrated how Thread network sharing works through a live demo. In the demonstration, developers used an Android phone to set up a Nanoleaf Thread light with a Nest Audio device, which does not have a built-in Thread border router (TBR). During setup, the app prompted users to add a TBR, guiding them to scan a QR code.

The developers then used a Google TV Streamer to generate a QR code for sharing the Thread network information. With this information saved to the phone, the light bulb successfully joined Google Home.

According to the Thread Group, the sharing feature will be available for Google TV Streamer soon.

ThirdReality garage door controller

There has been strong demand for Matter-enabled garage door controllers. While companies such as SwitchBot and Sonoff use dry contact switches to modify existing installations, ThirdReality has taken a different approach.

The company showcased a new product in development—a black box capable of triggering garage door remotes. It works in conjunction with another sensor to enhance the user experience and connects via Matter over Wi-Fi.

Vivo hub-free Matter control

Notable smartphone brand Vivo demonstrated built-in Matter control in its phones, providing a hub-free experience. This represents a significant step for smartphone manufacturers to support Matter without requiring a vendor-specific hub. Vivo’s Home app now supports essential device types such as sensors, lights, curtains, and Matter bridges.

The on-site demo showed Aqara devices running on a Vivo phone. The app features a built-in Matter Controller and can directly display sensor data and device controls.

The user experience is similar to that of an iPhone running iOS 18.

Infineon Matter smart door lock

Infineon, a leading IoT chipset maker, displayed a demo kit for a Matter-enabled smart door lock. Unlike mainstream Thread-based solutions, the kit uses a low-power Wi-Fi chipset, offering both Matter connectivity and flexibility without the need for a Thread border router.

Tuya presents new Matter-enabled devices and multi-protocol hubs

Tuya, a leading smart home solution provider, displayed a range of Matter-based pre-built devices, including sensors, fan lights, and hubs.

The company introduced a new version of its multi-protocol Matter hub, which adds Wi-Fi, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and plans to incorporate Tuya Bluetooth devices into Matter. This "reference" device is expected to be adopted soon by vendors such as Zemismart and Momax.

Heiman Matter-over-Thread sensors

Heiman, a notable Matter sensor manufacturer, presented its Matter-over-Thread product line, which includes PIR sensors, door sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, CO alarms, and smoke detectors.

A new device – Gas Sensor—was also on display. It features a sleek, compact design in line with Heiman’s signature style. The sensor comes equipped with built-in lighting and a siren for detection alarms.

A water leak detector was also included in the lineup. It is expected to be one of the first Matter-over-Thread devices in its category after receiving Matter certification.

A six-key Thread scene switch

The Chinese brand Haojia displayed a series of Matter-over-Thread scene switches, available in both in-wall and battery-powered models.

These switches feature a stylish, refined appearance with a comfortable touch. According to the company, the panel is made from luxury decorative materials sourced from Italy.

Atios KNX and DALI Matter bridge

Swiss company Atios presented two Matter bridges at GILE: the Atios KNX Bridge and the Atios SmartCore. These devices can integrate KNX and DALI smart home systems with Matter and enable direct connection with DALI devices.

Both devices support Power over Ethernet (PoE) and DC wiring. There is also a web-based UI for configuration and management.

We saw some more upcoming Matter devices at CES 2025.