5 devices you didn't know were Thread Border Routers
You might already own a Thread Border Router without knowing it. These five devices have Thread connectivity hiding in plain sight.
Christian Cawley
Explainer
259 articles
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IKEA’s Matter rollout is becoming a test of scale, price and simplicity
In an exclusive Matter Alpha interview, IKEA product leaders detail how the retail giant is expanding its affordable smart home lineup with new hubs, air purifiers, and heating controls.
Ward Zhou
Why a certified Matter feature can still disappear between the spec and your smart home app
Getting a feature into the Matter specification requires surviving a strict "rule of three," but as Silicon Labs' Rob Alexander explains, certification tells you nothing about whether major smart home apps will actually support it.
Ward Zhou
iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo: Every Apple device with Thread
Apple’s N1 chip is quietly making Thread a standard feature across the entire ecosystem, from the latest iPhone 18 Pro to M-series Macs. Here is every Apple device that packs Thread hardware.
Ward Zhou
Matter 1.7 drafts smarter sensing, electrical infrastructure, and post-quantum security
An early Matter 1.7 draft reveals provisional support for proximity ranging, predictive occupancy sensing, electrical infrastructure panels, and post-quantum device attestation.
Ward Zhou
A year after installing Matter smart switches, do I have any regrets?
After spending a year replacing every wall switch in his home with Wi-Fi-enabled smart switches, one homeowner weighs the true costs, unexpected labor, and long-term benefits of the grand DIY smart home project.
Bertel King
Five things you can do with Matter virtual devices
Virtual devices can fill some surprising gaps between Matter ecosystems.
Ward Zhou
5 smart home devices I wouldn’t buy without Matter in 2026
While Matter has become a mandatory checklist item for smart plugs, lighting, locks, and thermostats, there are still a few tech categories where skipping the protocol makes sense.
Christian Cawley
Putting presence sensors in every room of my home is the best home upgrade I've ever made
A true smart home shouldn't require an app for every routine task; it should simply anticipate your needs, starting with mmWave presence sensors that automate everything from fans and exhaust systems to closet lights.
Bertel King
Why buying Matter smart home devices at IKEA is harder than it should be
Buying affordable Matter-compatible gear should be easy, but navigating IKEA's messy smart home aisles is a frustrating ordeal.
Christian Cawley
I swapped my perfectly good air purifiers for smarter ones—and it was worth it
Managing five air purifiers across a large home is a chore. Trading manual checks for smart automations completely changed how we breathe.
Bertel King
Your Matter smart plug isn't just a switch — it's an energy sensor
Smart plugs do more than switch appliances on and off. With energy monitoring, they can trigger automations, send alerts and reveal energy use.
Christian Cawley
The best Matter-compatible air purifiers for a cleaner, smarter home
Whether it is VOCs, allergens, or smoke, there are a lot of things in the air that can make an impact on your health. Here are the best Matter-compatible air purifiers to automate your indoor environment and clear out pollutants.
Christopher Close
Why a smart, battery-powered fan is my favorite tech upgrade of the year
I never thought a fan would be exciting, but battery power and smart automation turned this simple appliance into a vital part of my daily routine.
Bertel King
Beyond the showroom: How I built a real-world Matter demo for Open Day
Most Matter demos are just glorified on/off switches, but I wanted to show what a truly integrated home looks like—so I built one from scratch for the Matter Open Day.
Ward Zhou
Silicon Labs vs. the Matter bloat: The plan for Series 3 and Matter 1.6
As Matter 1.6 adds complex features, chipmakers face a balancing act. Silicon Labs explains how it’s managing that load with new hardware and SDKs.
Ward Zhou
Why I installed climate sensors in every room of my house
Smart thermostats are only as accurate as the single room they occupy. To truly understand your home’s climate, you need to go granular—here is how filling your house with temperature, humidity, and air quality sensors transforms a basic smart home into a truly intelligent one.
Bertel King
Isn’t it time for Matter-controlled robot lawn mowers?
As smart home tech moves from the living room to the garden, robot lawn mowers remain a glaring omission. With outdoor automation scaling up, it’s time for the Connectivity Standards Alliance to bring grass cutters into the Matter fold.
Christian Cawley
Why we aren't giving Matter 1.4 enough credit for fixing smart home enrollment
The days of flicking light switches in rhythmic patterns to pair devices are finally over. Matter 1.4 has quietly revolutionized smart home commissioning, making setup faster, more reliable, and—most importantly—less frustrating.
Christian Cawley
Beyond smart plugs: The best new Matter device categories to try next
If your smart home still relies solely on plugs and bulbs, you’re missing out. Here are five Matter-enabled device categories to level up your automation.
Christian Cawley