Aqara W100 Climate Sensor review: A great but unfinished piece for Matter

Aqara's W100 Climate Sensor reviewed: dual Zigbee/Matter support, sleek design, long battery, but Matter mode lacks key features. $39.99.

by Ward Zhou in #Temperature Sensor #Review

Thursday, May 1, 2025

New Ikea smart light Blomprakt appears on FCC

Ikea Blomprakt smart lamp spotted in FCC filings! "Beautiful flora" light likely uses Zigbee, hinting at Matter compatibility via the Dirigera hub. Global launch expected. #SmartHome #Ikea #Matter

by Ward Zhou in #Gateway #News

Thursday, May 1, 2025

This one thing makes most smart home platforms vulnerable

Most smart homes get a lot less smart when the internet goes out. Not all Matter-compatible platforms are affected by this, but it's something you should plan for.

by Bertel King in #Hub #Explainer

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Eve Weather receives Matter 1.3 update and unit switch feature

More Eve devices are getting updates, bringing them up to Matter 1.3 specification.

by Ward Zhou in #Temperature Sensor #News

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread? What to know before buying your next smart home device

If you're building a smart home, you might be confused: Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread? Well, the answer is straightforward -- when in doubt, look for Matter.

by Bertel King in #Gateway #Explainer

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Bosch Smart Kitchen Dock receives Matter 1.3 certification

Bosch to add more power to its Matter-enabled Smart Kitchen Dock with Matter 1.3 specification update, almost 12 months after the standard was issued.

by Ward Zhou in #Gateway #News

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Why Google killing old Nest devices is good for Matter

Google is retiring older Nest thermostats, ceasing updates from Oct 2025. While offering discounts, this move aligns with their focus on Matter, potentially benefiting the smart home standard despite short-term waste.

by Christian Cawley in #Thermostat #News

Monday, April 28, 2025

Google Home vs. Apple Home - How do they differ & which one is better?

Should you embrace the smart home platform that comes with your phone? We take a look at Google Home and Apple Home.

by Bertel King in #Hub #Explainer

Monday, April 28, 2025

Flic Twist review: the ultimate all-in-one remote, button, and dimmer

The Flic Twist is a compact yet powerful smart home controller that combines a clickable button, a rotating dial, and 12 selectable modes into a single device. With support for up to 24 trigger and 12 analog controls, it offers an impressive level of scene and device management.

by James Bruce in #Other #Review

Friday, April 25, 2025

Aqara releases Thread-enabled Voice Mate H1 in China

Aqara's Voice Mate H1, a compact, Thread-enabled voice controller with AI, launched in China for hands-on smart home automation and doubles as a smart remote.

by Ward Zhou in #Other #News

Friday, April 25, 2025

Aqara launches new Matter-compatible M100 hub and sensor

Aqara launches its Matter-compatible M100 hub with Zigbee/Thread support and the global W100 climate sensor, part of their 2025 smart home lineup.

by Christian Cawley in #Temperature Sensor #Gateway #News

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Aqara Hub M100 review: Best value Matter hub

Aqara’s best value Matter hub is here with all the features packed in a dongle.

by Ward Zhou in #Gateway #Review

Thursday, April 24, 2025

New Matter-over-Thread presence sensor got certified from GL.iNet

A new battery-powered presence sensor is coming with water resistance. The Lafaer Wireless Human Presence Sensor LWR01 is "coming soon."

by Ward Zhou in #Occupancy Sensor #News

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Meross Smart Plug MSS315 receives Matter 1.4 update

While you wait for initial Matter 1.3 support for energy monitoring plugs, some just got 1.4 firmware.

by Ward Zhou in #On/Off Plug-in Unit #News

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Flic 2 Button review: Everything’s better with Matter (sort of)

Flic 2 brings physical control back to your smart home with customizable click actions and new Matter support—sort of. While still useful for niche scenarios, aging hardware, clunky app design, and limited integrations leave it feeling a little… stuck in 2015.

by James Bruce in #Generic Switch #Other #Review

Monday, April 21, 2025

ThirdReality MK1 Magic Keyboard review: an ultimate Matter remote

A Matter-enabled keyboard is now a thing with up to 12 programmable switches to control your smart home.

by Ward Zhou in #Gateway #Generic Switch #Review

Friday, April 18, 2025

OpenADR and Matter unite, bring the smart grid into the smart home

Smart homes & grid unite! New spec bridges OpenADR and Matter for seamless energy flexibility. Lower bills and even a greener future could be on the horizon.

by Christian Cawley in #Dishwasher #Industry News

Friday, April 18, 2025

Sonoff releases Matter-enabled shutter control module MINI-RBS

Sonoff's new Matter-enabled MINI-RBS automates curtains & blinds. Compact in-wall module works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa & more for your DIY smart home.

by Ward Zhou in #Window Covering #News

Thursday, April 17, 2025

A look at controlling Matter with a smartwatch

A smartwatch is like a smart speaker that's always on your wrist, plus it has a screen, making it perfect for controlling your Matter smart home.

by Bertel King in #Extended Color Light #Explainer

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

CSA takes steps to explore Matter and long-range wireless capability

Matter devices with long-range communication capability? The Connectivity Standards Alliance is on the move.

by Ward Zhou in #Gateway #Industry News

Wednesday, April 16, 2025