The Connectivity Standards Alliance has formally unveiled Matter 1.5, marking a significant advancement in the smart home standard, particularly with the inclusion of camera support.
The latest specification paves the way for a broad array of Matter-enabled video devices, along with enhancements for window coverings, plant-care sensors, and advanced energy management capabilities.
Cameras are undoubtedly the star feature of this update. Matter 1.5 introduces a standardized camera specification, allowing manufacturers to integrate their devices into major smart home ecosystems without the need for custom APIs or proprietary integrations. Matter-compatible cameras will now support live video and audio streaming via WebRTC, enabling two-way communication, local and remote access, and even multi-stream configurations.
This new standard also includes features such as pan-tilt-zoom controls, privacy zones, motion detection, and flexible storage options. While platform-specific clip playback and storage remain under the control of device makers, and on-device audio/video analysis is not yet supported, the groundwork is set for a wide range of applications, from doorbell cameras to outdoor floodlight cams.
The update also streamlines the handling of closures, which include window shades, blinds, awnings, gates, and garage doors. With Matter 1.5, these devices can provide clearer open and close states and support various motion types, such as sliding, rotating, and multi-part setups. The Alliance expects this to result in more consistent control across different apps and ecosystems.
For those with a green thumb, Matter 1.5 now officially supports soil sensors. These devices can monitor moisture and temperature levels and work in conjunction with Matter-enabled irrigation systems or water valves to automate watering schedules.
Energy management sees a substantial improvement as well. Utilities and grid operators can now deliver real-time and forecasted pricing, tariff data, and carbon information directly to Matter devices. This allows for more accurate estimations of energy costs and carbon impact, while enhanced smart metering support improves consumption tracking at home.
With Matter 1.5 now available, manufacturers can begin developing new product categories under the updated specification, and major platforms can start integrating support. The addition of cameras is expected to significantly expand the Matter ecosystem.
