Owl Home has just received Matter 1.5 certification for Owl Wired, bringing its multi-sensor smoke and carbon monoxide alarm closer to broader smart home support.
The wired alarm combines smoke and CO detection with motion, temperature, humidity, and air-quality sensing in one device. The company plans to bring Matter to existing compatible units through a free firmware update rather than introducing new hardware revision.
Six sensors in one device
Owl Wired is designed as more than a smart smoke alarm. Alongside smoke and CO detection, it includes a PIR motion sensor and sensors for temperature, humidity, and air quality.
The device is mains-powered but includes an internal 2,500 mAh rechargeable lithium battery for backup power. Matter-over-Wi-Fi is still immature for low energy sensors, so I won’t expect it to last long without constant power supply.
The device also has an 89 dB alarm, speaker, and six-color LED ring.
Packing several sensors into a smoke alarm also gives the device a useful position in the home. Smoke alarms are typically installed in central locations and remain powered, allowing one device to provide environmental and occupancy data alongside its primary safety functions.
Connectivity is provided through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE. Owl lists the hardware as supporting Wi-Fi 6, an optimized option for Matter. Despite the transmit speed the vendor marked – up to 1,200 Mbps – suggests 5GHz support, its Matter certification notes it is 2.4Ghz-only.
What it supports in Matter
Owl Wired is certified against Matter 1.5, and its compliance documents show six endpoints exposed through Matter.
Temperature and humidity are available with current readings and additional measurement information. The PIR sensor exposes occupancy, while the smoke and CO endpoint covers alarm states, self-test, and fault reporting.
Air quality levels are exposed through Matter, with classifications ranging from Fair and Moderate to Very Poor and Extremely Poor.
The device also reports the state of the internal rechargeable battery, including its percentage, charge level, presence, and charging status.
That makes the Matter implementation relatively broad rather than exposing Owl Wired simply as a smoke and CO alarm. However, functions available in each smart home platform will still depend on how platforms currently present and support composed Matter devices.
How to upgrade
Existing compatible Owl Wired devices are expected to receive Matter through a free over-the-air firmware update.
After the update, the Owl Home app will guide users through migrating the device to Matter and adding it to a compatible smart home platform.
Owl says users will also be able to remain on the existing HomeKit integration during a transition period rather than immediately migrating to Matter.
The certification itself does not mean the firmware is ready for public installation. Owl is still completing its production infrastructure, including Matter device attestation certificates and the remaining deployment work needed for the rollout.
The company has not announced an exact release date for the update.
Where can you get the new Owl Wired?
Owl Wired is available from Owl Home for $189 in black and white.
New hardware is not required for existing compatible Owl Wired owners, with Matter planned as a free firmware update.
(Source: Owl Home, CSA; Image: Owl Home)
