Matter 1.6 Announced With NFC Setup, Cross-Ecosystem Device Sharing, and Smarter Thermostats

[MacRumors]

The Connectivity Standards Alliance that includes Apple today announced the latest version of Matter, Matter 1.6. The update focuses on improved device setup, better coordinated device management, and response to control inputs.

Matter 1.6 includes NFC-Based Commissioning for setting up light bulbs in ceiling fixtures, in-wall switches, and other products that need to be configured prior to installation. It allows for setup before the device is fully powered, and it serves as an alternative to Bluetooth LE setup. Users will just need to hold a smartphone near a device to commission it.

For multi-ecosystem device sharing, Matter 1.6 supports "Joint Fabric" as a new approach that expands the Enhanced Multi-Admin toolkit. Joint Fabric lets multiple user-authorized controllers co-administer a single shared Matter network. Any device added to the Joint Fabric is accessible to all participating controllers, which makes it simpler for Android and iOS users in a household to access and control Matter-enabled devices. Matter smart home products can be controlled from any interface or ecosystem without requiring a separate setup of every device for each platform.

Thermostat Suggestions improve how thermostats account for user inputs and preferences. Controllers won't send direct commands to change temperature or mode, but will instead submit a time-bound suggestion tied to the thermostat's supported presets so the thermostat can react based on preferences and environmental conditions. The CSA says the new feature will be helpful in the following situations:

• A user enrolled in a utility demand-response program can configure the thermostat to protect those commitments, preventing an automation from a different ecosystem from accidentally overriding a savings event.
• A user who has chosen to optimize for energy savings, or for humidity control, air quality, or another preference, can have the setting recognized and respected across connected services without needing to configure it in each one.
• A thermostat that was just manually adjusted, on the device or through one ecosystem, can recognize a suggestion arriving moments later from another source and will identify it is likely not what the user intended, and defer.

The update standardizes how devices communicate their capabilities and operational limits, and CO and smoke alarms are now able to indicate when they have been removed from their installed position. Security sensors are also able to interoperably indicate a sensor event history, so ecosystems have access to real-time status and past activity.

Matter 1.6 is available for device makers and platforms to integrate into their products. Apple so far has not been quick to implement new Matter specifications. Matter 1.4 was announced back in November 2024, but Apple Home doesn't support all of the Matter 1.4 features.

In tvOS 27, Apple implemented support for Thread 1.4, improving Matter-over-Thread connectivity. Thread credential sharing allows smart home devices to join existing Thread networks for a true mesh network instead of separate, parallel networks across Thread Border Routers from different manufacturers.

Article Link: Matter 1.6 Announced With NFC Setup, Cross-Ecosystem Device Sharing, and Smarter Thermostats

 

[germanbeer007]

can't wait for belkin to disable all current hardware and ask the user to buy new ones (again)

 

[MallardDuck]

Doesn't matter if you want to run Apple Home (which is somewhere between the trash can mac and the magic mouse charging port in terms of product usability).

 

[k1121j]

Great now if only it would not take 5-8 seconds or longer for my HomePod Siri to turn my Philip hue lights off when I ask it. It’s instant when using the home app.

 

[ChrisA]

Great now if only it would not take 5-8 seconds or longer for my HomePod Siri to turn my Philip hue lights off when I ask it. It’s instant when using the home app.

This has nothing at all to do with Siri. The problem is that the HomePod is not powerful enough to process speech and has to send an audio file to Apple's servers to figure out what you asked for.

"Joint fabric" and thermostat conflict resolution is not even remotely related to Siri.

 

[DotCom2]

can't wait for belkin to disable all current hardware and ask the user to buy new ones (again)

I'm DONE with these people!

 

[d-klumpp]

Great now if only it would not take 5-8 seconds or longer for my HomePod Siri to turn my Philip hue lights off when I ask it. It’s instant when using the home app.

Siri is mostly quick with our lights, but we have several bulbs and fixtures other than Philips.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Great now if only it would not take 5-8 seconds or longer for my HomePod Siri to turn my Philip hue lights off when I ask it. It’s instant when using the home app.

Same with my iPhone Pro. Cost of speech recognition I guess.

 

[ChrisA]

I wonder why MR even bothers to post this. The average consumer will never see these changes. Some devices will seem less stupid, but people rarely notice that. The difference you might see is that if you tell a light bulb to go to "200% brightness," the error might say "out of range, choose a number from 0 to 100" rather than just "Invalid value." That kind of thing applied across the full range of devices. The light bulb is obvious, but it makes more sense for an oven. Does it go to 450 or 500? Now, with 1.6, the oven can tell the Matter controller its limits. Car charging, air conditioning and lots of other stuff is affected.

Maybe some other issues are fixed. For example, to turn on a ceiling fan, do you control the fan or the switch? I think now the Matter controller might be a little smarter about that.

The biggest thing is "Joint Fabric." With Matter 1.6, we can tell Apple Home, "See all those Matter devices connected to that Google controller? Connect them also to Apple Home." This beats sharing each device one at a time. Then the next time you add a new device, it will show up on both Apple and Google's controllers.

I think it will take a year for this to flow down to consumer visible devices.

 

[LogicalApex]

Doesn't matter if you want to run Apple Home (which is somewhere between the trash can mac and the magic mouse charging port in terms of product usability).

Not sure I follow 🤔

Apple Home supports Matter. My Nest thermostat is in Apple Home via Matter.

 

[123jmail]

I still can't figure out why my Kwikset deadbolt won't let me connect to Matter and also keep the additional functionalities of the Kwikset app (like open door sensor). Really disappointing.

 

[keys]

Great now if only it would not take 5-8 seconds or longer for my HomePod Siri to turn my Philip hue lights off when I ask it. It’s instant when using the home app.

My OG HomePod takes about 2 seconds to complete Siri requests like this.

 

[RadicalxEdward]

If you still require two controllers/border routers to control from both android and iOS, this is pointless to me.

 

[chelsel]

Tried the Apple Home setup. Got tired of saying Hey Siri, turn off the lights and Siri saying which light? Then naming all the lights in the house. So I switched to Amazon Alexa+ and I am so much happier. Everything works exactly as it should. Further I put all of my smart home accessories on their own VLAN separate from the important personal devices. Highly recommend doing that as you add more and more random IoT devices.

 

[svish]

Good to know about this. Better connectivity and overall better experience is always welcome.

 

[tsubikiddo]

Matter 1.4 isn’t even implemented in Apple Home yet, expect 1.6 by os30 ⁉️

 

[Oberhorst]

Thread 1.4 isn’t even implemented in Apple Home yet, expect 1.6 by os30 ⁉️⁉

This is about Matter, Thread 1.4 is still the current version and it's supported by tvOS 27 as stated in the article. There's no Thread 1.5 or 1.6.
But Home doesn't even (fully) support Matter 1.5 yet. It's ridiculous for a member of the standard alliance to not even support a version that's been published more than half a year ago and where there's already a successor version announced as of today.

 

[k1121j]

My OG HomePod takes about 2 seconds to complete Siri requests like this.

interesting I have new HomePods and a bunch of minis same slow response.

 

[neuropsychguy]

interesting I have new HomePods and a bunch of minis same slow response.

It sounds like it might be an issue on the Philips end. I have an original HomePod and a Mini and both turn on/off my Tapo L535 lights within 2-3 seconds. There have been some times it took a second or two longer, but I just ran several tests and they were always on or off within 3 seconds.

 

[k1121j]

What is your hub? Is it wired or wireless?

It sounds like it might be an issue on the Philips end. I have an original HomePod and a Mini and both turn on/off my Tapo L535 lights within 2-3 seconds. There have been some times it took a second or two longer, but I just ran several tests and they were always on or off within 3 seconds.

And your sure your using Siri and not the home app?

 

[neuropsychguy]

And your sure your using Siri and not the home app?

Yes, that's my response time using Siri. My Tapo bulbs connect directly via Matter, meaning there is no third-party hub involved. If you are going through the Hue Bridge that extra 'hop' (Siri to hub, then hub to light) is likely where your delay is happening. It could be on either side or both sides of the bridge communication.

Previously, I used LIFX (no hub) and a few Sengleds (with a hub), and they were also quick. I've since retired them because I prefer the Matter integration (and LIFX are a little pricey). Siri and HomePods certainly aren't flawless, but in my current setup, the responses from Matter-connected lights are almost always within 3 seconds. Going directly through the Home app results in almost instantaneous response.

 

[k1121j]

Yes, that's my response time using Siri. My Tapo bulbs connect directly via Matter, meaning there is no third-party hub involved. If you are going through the Hue Bridge that extra 'hop' (Siri to hub, then hub to light) is likely where your delay is happening. It could be on either side or both sides of the bridge communication.

Previously, I used LIFX (no hub) and a few Sengleds (with a hub), and they were also quick. I've since retired them because I prefer the Matter integration (and LIFX are a little pricey). Siri and HomePods certainly aren't flawless, but in my current setup, the responses from Matter-connected lights are almost always within 3 seconds. Going directly through the Home app results in almost instantaneous response.

Thanks. It’s only when using Siri not the home app so it can’t be the Philips hub itself. The last three updates it’s been disgustingly slow Philip Hugh has always been the most responsive of any smart bulb. I’ve tried. I’ve tried a lot if I use the Home app it’s instant if I use the Phillips hue app or home app it’s instant if I use Siri, it takes forever.