Matter 1.2 adds robo cleaners and appliances to the smart home mix

By Paul LamkinOctober 23, 20233 Mins Read

Nine new devices types added to the Connectivity Standards Alliance's platform

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has announced the second major update to Matter, with Matter 1.2 adding nine new device types to the smart home standard, alongside a number of improvements for developers.

Following on from the Matter 1.1 launch back in May, the update means that the Alliance is sticking to its promise of two releases per year.

However, unlike the 1.1 launch, Matter 1.2 isn’t just about bug fixes and stability… we finally have some juicy new device types to add to the Matter mix.

If you’re keeping up with Matter, you’ll know that Matter 1.0 launched in late 2022 with Matter devices certified from eight launch categories; light bulbs and light switches, plugs, door locks, thermostats and HVAC controllers, blinds and shades, smart sensors, bridges, smart TVs and streaming devices.

The number is now 17 with refrigerators, room air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry washers, robotic vacuums, smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, air quality sensors, air purifiers and fans now all possible of becoming Matter certified.

The list has a few categories we all expected; Samsung has already included SmartThings hubs that double up as Matter controllers in its smart fridges and Roborock, one on the leading robo cleaner brands, joined the CSA back in August.

White goods are also a no-brainer for Matter as, let’s face it, no one needs a separate app to control their washer / dryers and so it makes smart, connected, appliances more accessible for consumers.

There are a couple of notable absentees from the list though.

At an IFA 2022 event ahead of the initial Matter launch, the CSA’s Head of Certification & Testing Programs, Jon Harros, showed off a slide which listed the eight launch device types, but also gave us a heads up of what was coming next…

Roborock joins CSA, raising hopes for robot vacuum cleaner Matter action — (Image credit: The Ambient)

Doorbells and smart security cameras are the major absentee from that list, it was hoped that our connected cams would become part of Matter in 2023, but it looks like we’ll have to wait for 2024 for those to be included.

The CSA has stated that, “We expect that Matter will receive two new updates next year as part of the bi-annual release cadence — which should add even more device types and expand into new areas,” so it’s highly likely cameras will be part of one of those updates.

Back to Matter 1.2 and, aside from the new device types, the update also adds improvements to the SDK, testing tools, and certification program.

The Alliance tells us that there has been over 24,600 downloads of the spec, resulting in 1,214 certifications, with a 24% growth in the number of companies who have joined the Matter Working Group since the spec went live last year.

The premise of Matter is to make the smart home more unified and easier for consumers. It’s off to somewhat of a shaky start, but you can expect Matter to be one of the key themes at CES 2024 and a major ecosystem for the smart home in the years ahead.