The Best Matter-Compatible Garden Equipment
With the Matter standard hitting the scene almost two years ago, we've seen the market flooded with smart home staples like plugs, sensors, and light bulbs. Now with the basics covered, manufacturers have begun turning their attention to other important aspects of our daily lives—which includes the great outdoors.
by Christopher Close
in
#Occupancy Sensor
#Gateway
#On/Off Plug-in Unit
#Temperature Sensor
#Extended Color Light
#Explainer
A Complete List of Thread Border Routers on The Market Today
Although Thread doesn't need a "hub" in the traditional sense, you will still need another piece of hardware—a Thread Border Router—to take advantage of its benefits. So, if you are just starting a smart home or making the move to Matter, you'll need to know which devices act as Thread Border Routers. Here's our complete list of all the Thread Border Routers on the market today.
IKEA DIRIGERA Review: A Matter Bridge
IKEA has spent the last decade flogging its TRADFRI gateway. But IKEA is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, and Matter is the CSA’s pet project. Then Matter 1.3 happened, and suddenly IKEA’s new smart home looked a lot more interesting. Could the DIRIGERA bridge Matter in your home?
The Best Matter-Compatible IR Blasters
In our guide to the best smart plugs, we covered how they are a simple, yet effective way to add Matter capabilities to older devices with physical controls. However, smart plugs aren't so hot when it comes to devices that don't save their state after powering down or for those that rely on a remote. For these types of devices, you'll need to turn to a Matter-compatible IR Blaster to get the job done.
TUO Smart Button Review: Matter Gets Physical
For some smart home users, there are likely household members who don't quite share the same level of enthusiasm for home automation. For them—or just for those times when pressing a button is just plain quicker and easier—having a smart button or remote in the home is a must. Enter the TUO Smart Button.
New Home Assistant Update Includes Matter 1.3 and AI Automation
A collection of new features have been unveiled in Home Assistant 2024.6, which boasts various improvements and the inclusion of Matter 1.3. The Spring 2024 revision of Matter adds various smart home interoperability enhancements, which are now supported in the new Home Assistant release.
The Best Matter-Compatible Power Strips
As great as they are though, smart plugs are not always the best answer for every situation—especially when multiple devices are involved. When you need the versatility of smart plugs for your desk or behind a TV, you'll want to consider a Matter-compatible power strip.
How to Tell Which Version of Matter You’re Using
Knowing which version of Matter your hardware is running can help you to choose the right devices. It will also determine which features your smart home kit can control via a smart hub app, and which ones are restricted to the device’s native app. But there is a problem. You can’t definitively find out which version of Matter you’re using.
Eve Energy Smart Plug Review: Privacy at a Premium
To stand out in today's smart plug market, vendors will need to look for new ways to differentiate themselves from the plethora of low-cost alternatives. One company, Eve Systems, hopes to do so by offering their Eve Energy Smart Plug that focuses on user privacy while utilizing cutting-edge technology.
How Smart Home Devices Will Change With The Matter Standard
The chances are, your smart home isn’t as smart as you would like it to be. Incompatibility, a lack of interoperability, and perhaps a simple tiff between brands and ecosystems are taking their toll. Multiple apps, dependence on specific hubs, and a collision of ecosystems in an attempt to make things simply work.
Matter vs Z-Wave: What's the Difference?
Arguably the biggest problem with smart homes is the lack of compatibility between devices and hubs. Even where compatibility is used as a selling point, problems can occur down the line. Two possible solutions are the Matter protocol and the Z-Wave mesh networking system. But both are slightly different.
The Best Matter-Compatible Lamps To Light Up Your Life
No smart home is complete without proper lighting that you can control from the couch or from across the world. And while you may think to look for a smart bulb, plug, or switch when building the connected home of your dreams, you may benefit more from an all-in-one solution like a Matter-compatible lamp.