Google has just rolled out Matter to eight connected devices in its Nest ecosystem. Excellent news, which suggests that this revolutionary protocol will really become the long-awaited universal standard for home automation.
Home automation is really fascinating, but it 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 paved the way with iOS 16.1, and Google is following closely at the end of 2022. In a press release dated December 15, the digital giant announces that it has finally integrated Matter into its eight connected objects from its Nest and Nest ranges. Home. 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.
Google Nest and Google Home: eight Matter compatible devices
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 (1time and 2e 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.
So the Matter standard is starting to have a solid foundation to start delivering on its promise of interoperability, simplicity, and security, especially since Amazon has said it will enable its smart speakers and displays to control Matter over Wi-Fi by the end of the year, and that Thread support would be available in 2023. Eventually, all Matter 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…