After Google, Amazon is in turn deploying Matter on connected devices in its Echo ecosystem. Excellent news, which suggests that this revolutionary protocol will really become the long-awaited universal standard for home automation.

After Google, Amazon is in turn deploying Matter on connected devices in its Echo ecosystem. Excellent news, which suggests that this revolutionary protocol will really become the long-awaited universal standard for home automation.

After Google, it’s Amazon’s turn to integrate Matter into its connected objects. Excellent news that proves that this new universal protocol is indeed on the way to revolutionizing the world of home automation. Indeed, if the “connected house” is a dream, its implementation can be complicated for those who are not familiar with the subject. Between devices that don’t all “speak” the same language, different applications to control them and incompatible ecosystems, it’s always a headache to buy a new one. That’s why a lot of hope is placed in the Matter standard, which is supposed to simplify things. This is a standard that allows all certified devices to communicate with any platform, which should make it easier to purchase, install and use them within a connected ecosystem (see our article ). Finalized since October 2022, it must now be deployed by all players on the market, whether manufacturers of connected devices – who will have to update software or hardware – or home automation ecosystem managers. Apple led the way with iOS 16.1, followed by Google with its Nest and Home devices. Now it’s Amazon’s turn to update its Echo range, albeit with many limitations. Thus, the protocol is currently reserved only for Android devices, those running iOS having to wait until 2023, and only supports Wi-Fi.

Amazon Echo: 17 Matter compatible devices

As advertised in his press release, Amazon officially deployed the Matter protocol on 17 products in its Echo range on December 19, including connected speakers, plugs, switches and smart bulbs. In theory, therefore, it is possible to control any Matter-certified device with an Echo product from the list. But, in reality, it’s a little more complicated than that… Here are the devices in question which, unsurprisingly, are among the most popular:

• Echo Dot (5^e generation 2022)
• Echo Dot with clock (5^e generation 2022)
• Echo Dot (4^e generation)
• Echo Dot with clock (4^e generation)
• Echo Dot (3^e generation)
• Echo Dot with clock (3^e generation)
• Echo (4^e generation)
• Echo (v3)
• Echo Studio
• echo show 15
• Echo Show 10 (3^e generation)
• Echo Show 8 (2^e generation 2021)
• echo show 8
• Echo Show 5 (2^e generation 2021)
• echo show 5
• Echo Input
• Echo Flex

However, Matter’s integration into Amazon’s Echo products has some limitations. Indeed, they currently only support Wi-Fi, it will be necessary to wait until 2023 for them to benefit from the Thread. Additionally, only three types of devices are supported – sockets, bulbs and connected switches – but 13 other compatible devices are heard for the beginning of 2023 Finally, only Android users can take advantage of the Matter update of the Alexa app. iPhone users will have to wait until early 2023 to see it arrive on the Alexa application on their iPhone or iPad, because iOS requires the use of new APIs. The e-commerce giant will also have to deal with the question of the interoperability of ecosystems, since, for the moment, Matter devices connected to Alexa do not appear in Apple’s Home application, nor in Google Home, which is however provided for by the standard.

Google Nest and Google Home: 8 Matter compatible devices

If Apple led the way with iOS 16.1, Google followed closely at the end of 2022. In a press release dated December 15, the digital giant announced that it had finally integrated Matter into eight connected objects from its Nest and Home ranges. Millions of Google Nest smart speakers, displays and Wi-Fi routers, as well as billions of Android phones and tablets, have been updated in recent weeks. And that’s just the start, as Google plans to make more Matter-enabled devices later in 2023.

Unsurprisingly, Google has prioritized updating its most popular and newest devices on the market. As of now, all accessories compatible with Matter can be controlled from one of its Google Nest devices:

• Google Home
• Google Home Mini
• Nest Mini
• NestAudio
• NestHub (1^time and 2^e generations)
• Nest Hub Max
• Nest WiFi Pro

The Mountain View firm plans to add other devices to this list from 2023, including Nest thermostats and Nest Wi-Fi hotspots. All of these Matter-certified connected objects can be hosted by the Google Home application for iOS next year, but they can now be controlled from Apple’s operating system if added through an Android device. The Matter standard therefore begins to have a solid foundation to begin to deliver on its promises of interoperability, simplicity and security. Eventually, all certified accessories should therefore work with all home automation ecosystems. But if there are now many controllers, there is still a lack of devices to control for the moment…