Yeelight plans Thread-based smart devices

Notable smart lighting maker Yeelight has appeared in new FCC filings for an IoT radio module, signaling its plan to develop Thread-enabled devices.

Yeelight is a major smart light manufacturer, known for lighting with top-tier ratings and specs. For instance, its light strip has a High Color Rendering Index (Ra) of 97. Yeelight’s existing tech stack in connectivity primarily covers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This new development suggests the brand’s first steps toward Matter-over-Thread products.

A new journey to Thread

The module, named TH-EFR32-MG21 IoT Module With Thread, is a pre-built component designed for various smart home devices. It features the popular MG21 radio chip from Silicon Labs, which supports Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread. The FCC filing includes a Thread test report, confirming its intended use.

Specifications show that the module offers 1,024 KB of flash and 96 KB of RAM – sufficient for basic lighting products and sensors.

Yeelight has confirmed its plan to develop Thread-based smart home devices, but did not share further details with Matter Alpha.

Since there is still no certification for specific products, we may need to wait a while until the new product arrives on the market.

Why it matters to Matter 

Yeelight has already released a number of Matter devices, including the Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp, Yeelight Smart Lamp Cube Lite, and the Yeelight Obsid RGBIC Light Strip. It also offers a Matter bridge that brings its Bluetooth-based lights and switches into the Matter ecosystem.

This latest development is significant in the Matter and Thread space, where there are currently few options for Matter-over-Thread lighting – mainly from Nanoleaf and Aqara. Yeelight’s extensive lighting portfolio, which includes business-oriented solutions, could bring much-needed diversity to the category. With its entry, consumers and commercial users alike may soon have more high-quality Matter-over-Thread lighting choices.

Similar to wall switches, lighting is one of the most essential elements in a smart home setup. In the context of Thread, this is even more critical. Lights are typically always-on devices, making them ideal routers for extending Thread network coverage (assuming you already have a Thread Border Router) and enhancing its stability. Ceiling lights, in particular, are well-positioned to maximize coverage throughout the home.

(Source: FCC)