Small Matter devices need batteries, and the type matters more than you think
Features are important, but so is the type of battery that enables it all to happen.
Bertel King
Explainer
259 articles
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Matter improved my home in these 5 ways in 2025
I took a chance on many Matter products this year, and my home is better off for it.
Bertel King
My 4 favorite Matter purchases of 2025
Not every Matter product I purchased this year was a winner, but these four have become cherished additions to my home.
Bertel King
Year of my Matter experience: the joy, the surprise, and the frustration
Here are my overall takes on how Matter has evolved the smart home in 2025.
Ward Zhou
Top industrial trends of Matter ecosystem in 2025
What’s going on with Matter participants?
Ward Zhou
Your Matter smart home still needs buttons, and the options are getting better
Matter isn't only for apps and voice assistants.
Bertel King
2025 is nearly over: Here's why I'm still choosing Wi-Fi for my smart home devices
Matter over Thread is elegant in theory and infuriating in practice. From broken meshes to zero debugging, here’s why Wi-Fi still wins in my smart home.
James Bruce
IKEA's Matter-compatible smart home products
One of the easiest ways to start building a Matter-compatible smart home is to head to IKEA. But it’s not immediately clear which IKEA devices will work with Matter, and which ones are tied to IKEA’s previous smart home platform, TRADFRI. So, to help you out, we’ve collected all of IKEA’s smart home devices with Matter compatibility in one place.
Christopher Close
STMicroelectronics releases first Matter-ready NFC chip, how does it work?
Next-gen Matter devices will be easier to set up with enhanced NFC features.
Ward Zhou
The best Matter-compatible holiday lights
Gone are the days of twinkly white lights with five patterns; now you can have a rainbow cornucopia of music-reactive and Matter-compatible smart lighting to lift the holiday spirits.
James Bruce
SmartThings announces Matter 1.5 camera support: Update
Matter Camera could arrive faster than expected.
Ward Zhou
I just connected my first Matter-compatible smart locks—here's what it's like
Lockly Secure Link adapters add Matter compatibility to existing Wi-Fi smart locks, enabling unified control and automation within major smart home platforms, despite minor limitations.
Bertel King
Google and Apple are ready to optimize your battery-powered sensors
Your Matter sensors’ batteries will soon last longer.
Ward Zhou
Ikea new Matter listings reveal rechargeable AAA battery usage and more
More details show up as new Ikea Matter devices become available in Sweden.
Ward Zhou
Things I've learned from upgrading all of the wall switches in my home
Matter smart switches keep regular function (low friction) but have glowing lights; main benefit is checking all lights at a glance for under $1,000 total cost.
Bertel King
Smart home notifications are more curse than blessing
There are many reasons to want smart devices, but notifications may not be one of them after all.
Bertel King
Integrating 50 lights with a smart home ecosystem
It's the smart features that really Matter.
Bertel King
Issues I ran into while installing Matter smart switches
Installing Matter smart switches involves unexpected hurdles: complex 3/4-way wiring, crowded multi-gang boxes, tricky neutral wire bundles, and hidden costs like wall plates.
Bertel King
What is a Matter camera, and how does it work?
Everything you want to know about Matter Cameras.
Ward Zhou
Matter 1.5: Cameras lead the way as the standard grows into new parts of the home
Cameras, smart garden kits, and more advanced energy management is here with the latest Matter spec.
Ward Zhou