Matter 1.2 expands compatibility to many more device types

Matter has had the reigns of interconnectivity between smart home devices for just about a year, and a new expansion into more complex and useful devices is already taking place with Matter 1.2, which adds a batch of new device types.

What is the Matter standard?

Because Matter isn’t a product developed by one sole entity, it’s good to have a refresher every so often to jog the memory a little bit. Built on the basis of feedback from top tech companies like Google and Apple, Matter is a new standard that’s meant to bridge the gap between every smart home ecosystem out there.

Ecosystems like Apple’s HomeKit and Google Home, while still entirely separate systems, will be able to house the same devices through a process in which Matter blurs the line between each. As long as a device is “Matter compatible,” it can be set up with Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and so on without issue. You can even set these devices up in multiple ecosystems without a hitch – or so that’s the end goal.

In its current form, Matter has done some remarkable things. Over 1,214 certified sit on the list of compatible products since Matter 1.1. Those devices, while a big step, are small products like lights and sensors that could communicate with each other more easily. In Matter 1.2, that catalog of devices takes a massive step forward.

Matter 1.2 brings the big-ticket items

In Matter’s new 1.2 specification, there are a total of nine new item categories being added. These are devices that proved more complicated than lightbulbs and door locks and needed further development to be able to do what Matter needs, which is essentially to transcend smart home ecosystems.

With the list of new devices, it becomes clear as to why it’s taken a year to bring these device types to the new standard. Each has complex nuances that warrant further communication across varying smart home APIs. For instance, Matter 1.2 adds compatibility for air quality sensors. Not only do sensors need to read environmental data and transmit that to certain smart home ecosystems, but they also need to be able to provide AQI information with the device’s location, and they need to be able to do that with every smart home ecosystem.

Robot vacuums are not too dissimilar. Not only do they need to be able to start and stop, but they also need to take complex cleaning commands like which vacuum or mopping level to use in Matter 1.2. Robot vacuums further need to be able to report error codes if they get stuck or find themselves in other precarious situations.

Here’s Matter’s full list of additions in version 1.2:

• Refrigerators – Beyond basic temperature control and monitoring, this device type is also applicable to other related devices like deep freezers and even wine and kimchi fridges.
• Room Air Conditioners – While HVAC and thermostats were already part of Matter 1.0, stand alone Room Air Conditioners with temperature and fan mode control are now supported.
• Dishwashers – Basic functionality is included, like remote start and progress notifications. Dishwasher alarms are also supported, covering operational errors such as water supply and drain, temperature, and door lock errors.
• Laundry Washers – Progress notifications, such as cycle completion, can be sent via Matter. Dryers will be supported in a future Matter release.
• Robotic Vacuums – Beyond the basic features like remote start and progress notifications, there is support for key features like cleaning modes (dry vacuum vs. wet mopping) and additional status details (brush status, error reporting, charging status).
• Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms – These alarms will support notifications and audio and visual alarm signaling. Additionally, there is support for alerts about battery status and end-of-life notifications. These alarms also support self-testing. Carbon monoxide alarms support concentration sensing, as an additional data point.
• Air Quality Sensors –  Supported sensors can capture and report on: PM1, PM 2.5, PM 10, CO₂, NO₂, VOC, CO, Ozone, Radon, and Formaldehyde. Furthermore, the addition of the Air Quality Cluster enables Matter devices to provide AQI information based on the device’s location.
• Air Purifiers – Purifiers utilize the Air Quality Sensor device type to provide sensing information and also include functionality from other device types like Fans (required) and Thermostats (optional). Air purifiers also include consumable resource monitoring, enabling notifications on filter status (both HEPA and activated carbon filters are supported in 1.2).
• Fans –Matter 1.2 includes support for fans as a separate, certifiable device type. Fans now support movements like rock/oscillation and new modes like natural wind and sleep wind. Additional enhancements include the ability to change the airflow direction (forward and reverse) and step commands to change the speed of airflow.

The addition of several appliance types furthers Matter’s usefulness in smart home setups across millions of households. With that, companies like Whirlpool and Maytag are planning on implementing Matter 1.2 and beyond with the many products that fall under those brands (via The Verge).

It takes time for companies to bring certification to their products, and the release of Matter 1.2 simply means the roadway for these brands to do that is now lit up. It also means added support for bugs and issues in previous versions. Going forward, we’re sure to see many more certifications added to the 1,000+ number of already certified devices. Matter might not be a flawless standard, but it’s a promising one that’s exciting to watch unfold.