Matter was supposed to fix the smart home. One protocol to rule them all. Buy any device, plug it in, and it just works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and Home Assistant.

Two years in, the reality is more nuanced. Matter support is real and growing fast, but not every device category is covered yet, and some Matter products are better than others. This guide cuts through the marketing and tells you exactly which Matter devices are worth your money in 2026.

In this article
  1. What is Matter (30 second version)
  2. Matter vs Zigbee vs WiFi: quick comparison
  3. Best Matter lights and bulbs
  4. Best Matter smart plugs
  5. Best Matter sensors
  6. Best Matter smart locks
  7. Best Matter thermostats
  8. Best Matter light switches
  9. Matter controllers and hubs
  10. What Matter doesn't cover yet
  11. 5 tips before you buy
  12. Where Matter is headed

What Is Matter (the 30 Second Version)

Matter is a smart home standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. It lets devices from different brands talk to each other using a common language.

Before Matter, buying a Philips Hue bulb meant committing to the Hue ecosystem. An Aqara sensor worked great with HomeKit but needed extra steps for Alexa. Matter eliminates that. A Matter device works with every major platform out of the box.

Matter runs over two transport layers:

  • Thread (low power mesh network, similar to Zigbee). Best for sensors, buttons, and battery devices.
  • WiFi (your regular home network). Best for devices that need more bandwidth like cameras and speakers.
Key point

Matter is the language. Thread and WiFi are the roads it travels on. When shopping, look for "Matter over Thread" for the best experience with small devices.

Matter vs Zigbee vs WiFi: Quick Comparison

Already have Zigbee or WiFi devices? Here's how Matter stacks up.

FeatureMatter (Thread)Matter (WiFi)Zigbee
Cross-platformYes, all platformsYes, all platformsDepends on bridge
Mesh networkYesNoYes
Battery lifeGood (improving)PoorExcellent
Needs hubThread border routerNoZigbee coordinator
Local controlYesYesYes
Device varietyGrowing fastGrowing fastHuge catalog
Setup complexityScan QR codeScan QR codePairing mode

Bottom line: if you're starting fresh, go Matter. If you already have a working Zigbee setup, there's no rush to switch. Both work great with Home Assistant.

Best Matter Lights and Bulbs

Lighting is where Matter has the most options. Nearly every major brand has added Matter support to their bulbs and light strips.

Philips Hue (via Matter bridge)

Matter Editor's pick

Hue released a firmware update that exposes all Hue lights as Matter devices through the Hue Bridge. You get the full Hue ecosystem (scenes, animations, entertainment zones) plus Matter compatibility with any platform. Best color accuracy in the business.

Price: ~$15 per bulb, bridge ~$60

Nanoleaf Essentials (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread

Native Matter over Thread, no hub needed. Just a Thread border router (Apple TV, HomePod Mini, or a dedicated one). Great value for the money with solid color reproduction. The A19 bulbs and light strips are both excellent.

Price: ~$12 per bulb

IKEA DIRIGERA + Tradfri bulbs

Matter

IKEA updated DIRIGERA to support Matter. Their bulbs are the cheapest Matter option you can find. Color accuracy is "good enough" for most rooms. White ambiance bulbs are genuinely good.

Price: ~$8 per bulb, DIRIGERA hub ~$35

TP-Link Tapo L530E (Matter over WiFi)

Matter WiFi

Budget Matter bulb that connects over WiFi. No hub needed at all. Colors are decent, not Hue level. Good option if you just need a few smart bulbs without investing in a hub.

Price: ~$10 per bulb

Best Matter Smart Plugs

Smart plugs are a great entry point into Matter. They're cheap, useful, and most come with energy monitoring now.

Eve Energy (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread Editor's pick

Eve was one of the first companies to go all-in on Matter. The Eve Energy plug does power monitoring, works over Thread, and has a compact design that doesn't block adjacent outlets. The app is optional; everything works through Matter.

Price: ~$35

Tapo P125M (Matter over WiFi)

Matter WiFi

TP-Link's mini smart plug with Matter support. WiFi based, so no Thread border router needed. Energy monitoring included. At this price, you can put one on every appliance you want to track.

Price: ~$13

Meross MSS315 (Matter over WiFi)

Matter WiFi

Meross has been quietly shipping solid Matter products. This plug includes energy monitoring and a physical button. Their Matter implementation is reliable, and community reviews are positive.

Price: ~$16

Best Matter Sensors

Sensors over Matter are still catching up to the Zigbee selection, but the options that exist work well.

Eve Motion (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread Editor's pick

Motion sensor with light level detection. Battery powered, compact, and reliable. The Thread mesh means it stays connected even in tricky spots. IPX3 rated so it works outdoors under cover too.

Price: ~$40

Eve Door & Window (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread

Contact sensor for doors and windows. Simple, reliable, and battery lasts about a year. Matter makes it work with every platform natively. Useful for automations like "turn off the AC when a window opens."

Price: ~$35

Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2 (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread

Aqara's Matter-native contact sensor. Tiny form factor, excellent battery life, and Aqara's build quality is always solid. Works without the Aqara hub when paired via Matter.

Price: ~$18

Good to know

For sensors, Zigbee still has a bigger catalog and longer battery life. If you're running Home Assistant with a Zigbee coordinator, Aqara's Zigbee sensors are still hard to beat on price and variety. But Matter sensors are catching up fast.

Best Matter Smart Locks

Smart locks are a category where Matter really shines. Before Matter, locks were platform-locked (pun intended). Now one lock works everywhere.

Yale Assure Lock 2 (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread Editor's pick

The best Matter lock right now. Thread connectivity, auto-lock, DoorSense (knows if the door is closed), and works with Apple Home, Google, Alexa, and Home Assistant. The touchscreen keypad version adds PIN codes for guests.

Price: ~$220 (with keypad)

Aqara U200 Smart Lock

Matter Thread

Euro-cylinder lock (great for European homes). Fingerprint reader, NFC, and PIN. Matter over Thread. One of the few smart locks that fits European door standards without replacing the entire lock mechanism.

Price: ~$190

Best Matter Thermostats

Thermostats are trickier because HVAC systems vary wildly. Here are the Matter options that work well.

Google Nest Thermostat (3rd gen, Matter update)

Matter WiFi

Google added Matter support to the Nest Thermostat via firmware update. It now shows up in Home Assistant and other platforms as a native Matter device. If you already have one, just update the firmware. Read our Nest + Home Assistant guide for setup details.

Price: ~$130

Eve Thermo (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread

Radiator valve thermostat for European heating systems. Thread connectivity, local scheduling, and a clean design. Works without any cloud account. Perfect for European homes looking to go local.

Price: ~$80

Best Matter Light Switches

In-wall switches are a commitment. You want something reliable that won't need replacing in two years. Matter makes that safer because you're not locked to one app.

Aqara H2 Smart Switch (Matter over Thread)

Matter Thread Editor's pick

Available in 1-gang and 2-gang versions. No neutral wire required (works with most European and US wiring). Clean design, physical buttons that click nicely, and Matter means it will work with whatever platform you use 5 years from now.

Price: ~$40 (1-gang)

Leviton Decora Smart (Matter over WiFi)

Matter WiFi

US-style dimmer switch with Matter over WiFi. Requires a neutral wire. Leviton has been making switches forever, and the build quality shows. Good dimming range without flicker on most LED bulbs.

Price: ~$35

Matter Controllers and Hubs

To use Matter devices, you need at least one Matter controller. For Thread devices, you also need a Thread border router. Many devices serve both roles.

DeviceMatter ControllerThread Border RouterPrice
Apple TV 4K (2022+)YesYes~$130
Apple HomePod MiniYesYes~$100
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)YesYes~$50
Amazon Echo (4th gen)YesYes~$50
Home Assistant Yellow/GreenYesYes (with addon)~$50-130
Raspberry Pi + HAYes (with addon)Needs USB adapter~$70 total
Our recommendation

For the most flexibility, run Home Assistant as your primary Matter controller. It gives you local control, powerful automations, and works with Matter, Zigbee, and WiFi devices all in one place. Use Apple/Google/Alexa as secondary controllers for voice control.

What Matter Doesn't Cover Yet

Matter is expanding with every release, but some device categories are still missing or limited:

  • Cameras. Matter 1.4 added basic camera support, but most manufacturers haven't shipped it yet. For now, stick with platform-specific cameras or ONVIF compatible ones.
  • Robot vacuums. The spec exists (added in late 2024), but very few vacuums have shipped with Matter support. Roborock and Ecovacs have announced plans.
  • Doorbells. Same story as cameras. The protocol is ready but products are lagging behind.
  • Appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers, ovens. Matter supports them in theory. In practice, major appliance brands are moving slowly.
  • Energy management. Solar inverters, home batteries, EV chargers. Not in the Matter spec yet, though the CSA (the group behind Matter) has it on the roadmap.

For these categories, you're still better off with WiFi devices and platform-specific integrations, or Home Assistant's huge integration library.

5 Tips Before You Buy Matter Devices

1. Check the transport layer

"Matter compatible" can mean Matter over WiFi or Matter over Thread. For small, battery-powered devices, Thread is better (mesh networking, lower power). For cameras and speakers, WiFi makes more sense. The product page should tell you which one.

2. Make sure you have a Thread border router

If you're buying Matter over Thread devices, you need at least one Thread border router. Apple TV 4K, HomePod Mini, Nest Hub, and recent Echo devices all include one. You might already have one without knowing it.

3. Start small

Buy one or two Matter devices and test them with your setup before going all in. Matter is still evolving, and some combinations work better than others. A smart plug is the cheapest way to test.

4. Keep firmware updated

Many devices added Matter support through firmware updates, and the experience keeps improving. Enable auto-updates or check regularly. This is especially true for devices like Philips Hue where Matter support arrived after purchase.

5. Don't ditch working Zigbee gear

If your Zigbee devices work well, keep them. Home Assistant supports both, and there's no functional reason to replace working equipment. Add Matter for new purchases and let the transition happen naturally.

Not sure which devices work with your setup?

Our free scan checks your current smart home devices and tells you exactly what's compatible, what needs replacing, and the cheapest way to migrate.

Run Free Scan

Where Matter Is Headed

Matter releases new versions roughly every six months. Here's what's coming:

  • Matter 1.5 (expected mid-2026): Better camera support, improved energy management device types, and enhanced scene management.
  • More device types: The CSA is working on specs for major appliances, EV chargers, and solar equipment.
  • Better multi-admin: Right now, adding a Matter device to multiple platforms can be clunky. This is improving with every release.
  • Thread 1.4: The underlying Thread protocol is also improving, with better range and lower latency.

The direction is clear. Matter is becoming the default way smart home devices communicate. If you're buying new devices in 2026, choosing Matter means you won't need to replace them when you switch platforms or upgrade your hub.

The bottom line

Matter is ready for lights, plugs, locks, sensors, switches, and thermostats. For cameras, vacuums, and appliances, give it another year. The best strategy for most people: run Home Assistant as your hub, buy Matter for new devices, and keep your existing Zigbee gear running alongside it.

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