The latest update to the Matter smart home standard has launched today: Matter 1.5. The headline news is that smart cameras get support for the very first time.

This effectively brings Apple Home compatibility to a much wider range of cameras, and this is not the only new product category included in today’s launch …

Originally, brands wanting to offer Apple Home (formerly HomeKit) compatibility had to comply with an Apple-specific standard, and submit their devices for approval.

The Matter standard eliminates both steps, with any Matter-compatible device automatically compatible with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and Samsung Smart Things. As of the beginning of this year, all Matter devices get the Works With Apple Home badge without any further testing.

Cameras had been the most requested product category when it comes to adding support for the Matter standard. Their inclusion means that developers will no longer need to use custom APIs or integrations in order to interact with compatible cameras.

Matter cameras support live video and audio streaming using established WebRTC technology, permitting two-way talk and both local and remote access through standard STUN and TURN protocols. The specification also defines support for multi-stream configurations, pan-tilt-zoom controls, detection and privacy zones, and flexible storage options, including continuous or event-based recording to local or cloud destinations.

Another product category to gain Matter support is the diverse one under the heading of “closures.” This includes window shades, drapes, awnings, gates, and garage doors.

Through a simplified, modular cluster design, manufacturers can represent different motion types (e.g., sliding, rotating, opening) and configurations (e.g., single or dual panels, nested mechanisms) using a small set of building blocks.

Smart gardening devices are a growing category, and soil sensor support boosts the number of potential automations.

Matter 1.5 extends the standard’s reach into new garden and plant-care use cases with support for soil sensors. These devices can measure moisture and, optionally, temperature to help users maintain optimal conditions for indoor plants, gardens, and lawns. When combined with Matter-based water valves or irrigation systems, soil sensors can be used in automating watering intelligently, helping conserve water and improve plant health.

Finally, support for advanced energy management means it is easier than ever to track the usage costs of smart devices as well as to schedule power-hungry appliances to operate when power costs are lowest.

The new electrical energy tariff device type allows data from utilities, grid operators, and energy services on real-time and forecasted pricing, tariff, and carbon data to be shared with devices in a Matter-defined format. Devices can use this data to estimate and report their true energy costs and carbon impact, or to automatically adjust their operation based on user preferences, tariff schedules, or regulatory requirements. This also allows real-time or predictive data from energy-producing devices, such as home solar systems, to be incorporated into household energy management and optimization.

As with previous Mata updates, it will take some time for the new capabilities to filter down into consumer products, but there’s a lot to look forward to here.

• Official Apple Store on Amazon
• Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter for iPhone 17
• Official Apple iPhone Air cases and bumpers
• iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
• Official iPhone Air case
• Official iPhone 17 cases
• Official iPhone 17 Pro cases and Pro Max cases

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash