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Samsung SmartThings looks set to become the first major smart home platform to fully support Matter 1.2. According to a press release, the SmartThings platform now works with Matter 1.2, so manufacturers and developers can begin integrating their compatible devices with the platform. The SmartThings app won't be updated to support Matter until later this summer, so until then you won't be able to control your Matter-compatible Roborock robot vacuum or Midea dishwasher through SmartThings.
Samsung also announced several other updates to its smart home platform, including app design improvements, new device control options, a hub backup option, shareable routines, and the gamification of its SmartThings Energy feature.
This includes refrigerators, room air conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines, robot vacuums, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, air quality sensors, air purifiers, and fans. You'll be able to connect devices directly to the SmartThings app using Matter, control them, and receive notifications and alerts through the app.
The SmartThings platform already supports many of these devices, both from its Samsung brand and from other manufacturers (including Thermador, Bosch and Dacor). But they are usually achieved through cloud integration.
Matter provides these integrations natively, which means faster response times and the ability to control devices even when the network is down. While Samsung's connected appliances work with the SmartThings app, they are not Matter-certified. This means they only work with the SmartThings app, whereas Matter appliances can work with any smart-home platform that supports Matter. However, the other major platforms, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home, have not yet added support for Matter 1.2. Apple announced that it will support robot vacuum cleaners later this year, but there is no word on any of the other device types. Home Assistant supports Matter 1.2, but its Matter integration is still in beta. While Matter 1.3 was announced in May, bringing support for energy management, microwaves, ovens, electric ranges, hoods, and electric dryers, it's unclear when we'll see widespread platform support. Currently, there are only a handful of Matter-certified devices in the recently supported categories—some examples include the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Ecovac Deebot X2 Combo robot vacuums, and the AiDot air purifier. But now that one of the major platforms has announced support, I hope manufacturers will enable it on their devices. Well-known brands such as Whirlpool (which owns KitchenAid and Maytag), Midea, LG and Haier (which owns GE Appliances) have announced that their products will support Matter.
