Matter at One Year: Promise vs. Reality
When Matter 1.0 launched, it promised to end the smart home biggest frustration: devices that refuse to talk to each other. We tested 23 Matter-certified devices across Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant.
Top Picks by Category
Smart Plugs: Eve Energy (3rd Gen) — energy monitoring works across all platforms, Thread connection maintained 100% uptime over 90 days.
Smart Lights: Philips Hue with Matter Bridge — all existing Hue bulbs now appear as Matter devices on any platform.
Thermostats: Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium — most complete Matter implementation we tested.
Our Recommendation
Prioritize native Thread+Matter devices over bridged ones. The Eve Energy plug, Ecobee thermostat, and Philips Hue form an excellent starter kit that works across any platform.
