The Connectivity Standards Alliance has released Matter 1.5, a major update that expands the smart home standard with support for cameras, closures, soil sensors, and new energy management capabilities. This release strengthens interoperability, simplifies development, and opens the door for richer, more efficient connected home experiences.
Matter 1.5 follows earlier stability-focused updates and introduces many of the most requested device categories, making it easier for manufacturers to build products that work reliably across ecosystems including Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa.
Matter 1.5 Introduces Native Camera Support
One of the biggest additions in Matter 1.5 is camera support. Devices can now be built and certified with native Matter interoperability, allowing them to stream live video and audio using WebRTC.
Key capabilities include:
- Live video and audio streaming
- Local and remote access using STUN and TURN
- Multi-stream configurations
- Pan-tilt-zoom controls
- Detection zones and privacy zones
- Event-based or continuous recording to local or cloud storage
This addition gives consumers more choice in security cameras and enables ecosystems to offer unified monitoring without proprietary integrations.
Expanded Support for Smart Shades, Garage Doors, and Other Closures
Matter 1.5 updates the closure device category with a more flexible, modular structure. It now supports:
- Shades
- Drapes
- Awnings
- Gates
- Garage doors
Manufacturers can express different motion types and configurations using a streamlined set of building blocks. Consumers benefit from safer control, more accurate position reporting, and improved consistency across apps and platforms.
Soil Sensors Bring Smarter Irrigation and Plant Care
The new soil sensor device type enables Matter to support plant care and garden automation. Devices can measure soil moisture and temperature, enabling automations like:
- Watering when moisture levels drop
- Protecting plants during temperature swings
- Coordinating with Matter-enabled irrigation system
This addition supports more sustainable water use and healthier plant care for both indoor and outdoor environments.
Advanced Energy Management and Smart Metering
Matter 1.5 expands energy-related capabilities with features designed to support more efficient household energy use.
Highlights include:
- New electrical energy tariff device type
- Standardized pricing, tariff, and carbon-intensity data
- Enhanced smart metering with historical consumption tracking
- Support for time-varying tariffs
- Grid connection details and power-limit communication
- New EV charging features including state-of-charge and bi-directional charging
These improvements help devices optimize operation based on real-world grid conditions and user preferences.
Improved Data Transport With TCP and Large-Message Support
Matter 1.5 adds TCP support, enabling:
- Faster firmware updates
- More efficient handling of high-bandwidth data
- Better performance for devices like cameras
- Improved reliability and battery efficiency
This upgrade enhances Matter’s ability to support data-intensive devices in the future.
Why Matter 1.5 Matters for Consumers and Developers
For developers, Matter 1.5 simplifies product design, reduces reliance on custom APIs, and expands the types of devices that can be certified. For consumers, it delivers broader device choice, easier setup, and confidence that products from different brands will work together consistently.
Available Now for Manufacturers
The Matter 1.5 specification, SDK, and test tools are now available to Alliance Members. Developers can begin building the next generation of smart home devices with native support for cameras, closures, soil sensors, and advanced energy features.
