Matter Smart Home: Why Adoption Is Still So Slow

When the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced Matter, it sounded like the ultimate solution to a decade of smart home headaches. The promise was simple. You would buy a smart plug or light bulb, scan a single QR code, and it would work instantly with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.

However, years after its launch, the reality is much messier. While the technology is technically available, adoption has been sluggish and fragmentation still plagues the ecosystem. Here is why the universal standard hasn’t fixed your smart home yet.

The "Lowest Common Denominator" Problem

The biggest technical hurdle slowing down Matter adoption is feature parity. When you use a device via its native app or proprietary connection, you get full access to every feature the manufacturer designed. When you connect that same device via Matter, you often only get the basics.

For example, consider a high-end robot vacuum from companies like Roborock or Ecovacs. In their native apps, you can set no-go zones, view live camera feeds, and schedule room-specific cleaning. While Matter 1.2 technically added support for robot vacuums, the implementation is basic. Connecting via Matter might only allow you to turn the vacuum on or off.

This creates a dilemma for users. You can have the interoperability of Matter, or you can have the advanced features you paid for. Most users choose the features, rendering the Matter integration useless for complex devices.

The Hardware Hardware Headache: Hubs and Bridges

Matter was supposed to eliminate the need for proprietary bridges. In theory, your Nest Hub or Apple TV acts as the controller. In practice, figuring out which hardware you need is confusing.

To use Matter effectively, you usually need a “Thread Border Router.” Not every smart speaker works.

• Amazon: The standard Echo (4th Gen) is a border router, but the older Echo Dots are not.
• Google: The Nest Hub (2nd Gen) works, but the first generation does not.
• Apple: The Apple TV 4K (128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet version) supports Thread, but the 64GB Wi-Fi only version often does not.

Consumers buy devices expecting them to work, only to realize their current smart speaker is one generation too old. Furthermore, legacy brands like Philips Hue took years to fully roll out Matter support for their Hue Bridge. Even now, Hue recommends using their native integration for smoother performance with scenes and dynamic lighting effects.

Manufacturer Hesitance and Strategic Delays

Big tech companies have a financial incentive to keep you inside their walled gardens. While Apple, Google, and Amazon publicly support Matter, their implementation speeds tell a different story.

Supporting Matter requires significant research and development resources. Smaller manufacturers operate on thin margins. Implementing a new standard that allows customers to stop using their proprietary app (where they might upsell subscriptions or harvest data) is not always an attractive business proposition.

We saw this clearly when Belkin Wemo announced they were pausing their Matter rollout to “re-evaluate” their strategy. Similarly, Nanoleaf had to launch entirely new “Essentials” hardware to support Matter because their existing chips couldn’t handle the firmware requirements. This signals to consumers that their old devices are obsolete, which discourages adoption.

The "Multi-Admin" Nightmare

One of Matter’s selling points is “Multi-Admin” control. This feature allows a device to be controlled by Alexa and Siri simultaneously. However, setting this up is rarely seamless.

If you add a device to Google Home first, you have to dig through settings to generate a new pairing code to add it to Apple Home. If you do it in the wrong order, the device might become unresponsive.

Platform friction also remains high.

• Amazon Alexa often tries to force “Frustration-Free Setup,” which locks the device to your Amazon account before you even unbox it. This complicates moving it to a Matter network.
• Apple Home requires strictly certified hardware and often fails the pairing process if the Wi-Fi signal is even slightly unstable during setup.

Updates Are Happening, But Slowly

The CSA releases updates to the Matter specification roughly twice a year. Matter 1.2 introduced support for refrigerators, air conditioners, and dishwashers. Matter 1.3 added energy management and EV chargers.

However, just because the standard supports it doesn’t mean the devices exist. There is a massive lag time—often 12 to 18 months—between the CSA releasing a spec and a manufacturer actually selling a certified product on a shelf at Best Buy. As of early 2025, finding a Matter-certified dishwasher or washing machine is nearly impossible for the average consumer.

Is Matter Still the Future?

Despite the slow start, Matter is not dead. It is simply going through “growing pains” typical of any new technology standard. The support from the major platform holders ensures it won’t disappear. However, for 2024 and 2025, it remains a background technology rather than a primary selling point.

For now, the advice for smart home builders is cautious optimism. Buy devices that support Matter to future-proof your home, but do not expect a magic fix for fragmentation just yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Matter work with old devices? Generally, no. Most older smart plugs and bulbs lack the processing power or specific radio chips (like Thread radios) required for Matter. Some hubs, like the Philips Hue Bridge or Aqara Hub M2, can update to expose their connected devices to Matter, but individual standalone devices usually need to be replaced.

Do I need a specific hub for Matter? Yes. You need a Matter Controller. This can be a smartphone in some cases, but for a stable home, you need a stationary device like an Apple HomePod, Google Nest Hub, or Amazon Echo. If you want the best performance, you specifically need a device that acts as a “Thread Border Router.”

Is Matter faster than Wi-Fi? Matter is not a radio frequency; it is a language. However, Matter devices that use Thread (a low-power mesh network) are generally faster and more reliable than standard Wi-Fi smart plugs. They respond instantly and do not clog up your home Wi-Fi router.

Why are Matter devices more expensive? Matter certification costs money. Manufacturers have to pay fees to the CSA and use more powerful chips to handle the encryption and local processing required by the standard. This cost is passed down to the consumer, making a Matter plug cost $15–$20 compared to a generic Wi-Fi plug for $8.