Could a Philips Hue rollout come next?
Budget smart lighting company WiZ has become the first Signify brand to roll out support for Matter, with the company’s bulbs, lamps, and plugs receiving the update.
It comes just a few weeks after sibling Philips Hue announced a delay to its Matter rollout, with the WiZ v2 app enabling Matter support for devices it manufactured in early 2021 or later.
The migration over to Matter, of course, means that compatible WiZ devices can be added to the smart home standard’s array of supported platforms – including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, Alexa, and Google Assistant – and work via Wi-Fi, not just the cloud.
It’s particularly good news for Apple Home users, though. Previously, the only way the WiZ’s collection could be used alongside other HomeKit devices was to take advantage of Siri Shortcuts, so this is a huge boon for those already invested in Apple’s ecosystem.
For those unsure if their existing WiZ lights are eligible for the step up to Matter, you can check through the company’s support page. Other than a compatible device, however, all you’ll need is a Matter controller and the latest version of the WiZ app.
Once you’re set with the above, simply head to the app’s ‘Settings’ section and jump down to ‘Integrations’ and then ‘Matter’, which will allow you to follow the steps and receive individual Matter codes for the highlighted devices.
It’s worth noting that more advanced features will still only be available through the WiZ app, but basic controls relating to temperature, color, or on/off status will all be accessible through your chosen Matter platform.
And, providing all things go well with this rollout, we could soon see Philips Hue follow suit.
There was no updated release schedule given when Philips Hue confirmed the delay last month, but we’d guess that this WiZ rollout is at least partly a case of Signify testing the waters. Stay tuned for more.
