Review: How Eve's Matter Accessories Work With a HomeKit Setup

[SBlue1]

So far Matter just seems to be shuffling the deck chairs and not making much of an actual difference. I thought the entire idea was universal compatibility.

No. Matter means I can use the same lights with my iPhone as my wife with her android phone. I need my iPod mini as MY hub and she needs her Nest as HER hub.

Matter is great. Before Matter if I bought devices that were HomeKit only my wife couldn't use them and I couldn't use devices that were for Android users only. Now both me and her have millions of devices we can use.

 

[AbSoluTc]

This is incredibly complicated for some average mo who wants the lights to turn off at 9pm.
Yeah - computer enthusiasts might think jumping through all these hoops is fun… but the average person?

Am computer person, don't like jumping through hoops.

Used homebridge, was "cool" but not everyday functional and I don't need more crap to take care of. Ditched it.

 

[Tagbert]

Isn’t that the reason Matter was created to eliminate 3rd party bridges?

Matter requires the manufacturers to make their products compatible with MAtter to work. I haven’t seen that Google made the Nest compatible. Maybe they will later or will only do it on newer products. They’ve been surprisingly spotty on updates.

[edit] it looks like Nest is now compatible with Matter so you should be able to add a Nest device directly to your Home app. https://blog.google/products/google-nest/matter-general-availability/

FYI @Mac Fly (film) , @jonnysods

 

[AbSoluTc]

Totally concur with this 👆to anyone reading this article contemplating “upgrading” their eve to Matter for use on HomeKit, DONT DO IT.

i upgraded 6 eve energys, they randomly drop from HomeKit entirely after a day or so and only full factory reset fixes it. In fact one of them wont even work with a factory reset so currently it’s just a dumb switch. 😤

I signed up to do this, got all the info and decided to hold off. I saw no real benefit of switching to Matter when all my devices and eco system are strictly HomeKit/Apple.

So, really happy to know I dodged this bullet.

 

[ipedro]

So far Matter just seems to be shuffling the deck chairs and not making much of an actual difference. I thought the entire idea was universal compatibility.

I need my iPod mini as MY hub and she needs her Nest as HER hub.

Incorrect. A "Matter Controller" is any device that controls a Matter device, including but not exclusively a phone. If you have an Android phone, you have a Matter Controller. If you have an iPhone, you have a Matter Controller. If you have a Google Nest Hub, you have a Matter Controller. If you have a HomePod mini, you have a Matter Controller.

...you get the gist. Matter devices that can be controlled (lights, smart plugs, etc) don't need an Android specific Matter Controller nor do you need an iPhone specific Matter Controller. Right now, if you have an Android Phone and want to control an Eve device, you can. Matter Controllers that stay in the home like HomePod mini can relay commands by an Android device to other Matter devices in your home.

A temporary exception: Echo/Alexa devices have yet to be fully upgraded to Matter as they roll out the update gradually first to Android and then to Apple to prevent any bugs from taking down the entire ecosystem all at once. It's due soon (they said early 2023).

 

[dcassone]

I have had problems with Eve's Outdoor Camera after applying the firmware upgrade. I am on my 3rd unit and I have NOT applied the firmware update and so far it is working perfectly.

The symptoms were that after the firmware update, the device would report back to HomeKit that the light was on, but it never actually came on.

YMMV

 

[colticus]

I wish there was a simple way to get my Nest products working with HomeKit.

i have to use the Nest app because the Google Home app won't accept the Nest Protect devices, and I have to use the Home app because one of the cameras isn't supported by the Nest app. Makes me crazy.

Starling home hub works great. Probably the simplest way to integrate.

 

[BipedalOS]

I wish Apple would allow you to export your HK codes

 

[zapmymac]

The rollout has been slower than expected sadly. I thought CES would showcase more Matter/Thread, but meh. At this stage if your household is all Apple products, this doesn’t really matter to you yet. Mixed households may see a benefit IF you have the correct equipment. It’s still chicken/egg.

I’d like my Nest Protect to play nice with HomeKit, but using a separate app (Nest) isn’t that big of a deal.

 

[Tagbert]

I wish Apple would allow you to export your HK codes

I think that is exactly what is shown in the article in the second set of screen shots: “Save Matter Homekit Code”. It says you can save it to Photos, Files, or print it.

 

[Tagbert]

The rollout has been slower than expected sadly. I thought CES would showcase more Matter/Thread, but meh. At this stage if your household is all Apple products, this doesn’t really matter to you yet. Mixed households may see a benefit IF you have the correct equipment. It’s still chicken/egg.

I’d like my Nest Protect to play nice with HomeKit, but using a separate app (Nest) isn’t that big of a deal.

I think this article indicates that Nest is now Matter-enabled.

Matter is now available on Google Nest and Android devices

Matter is now available across Google Nest and Android devices.

blog.google

 

[coolfactor]

Wireless interference must be getting to be a major challenge for these devices.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

No, it does not defeat the point in any way whatsoever. The devices are now universal, they work with any hub. Without a hub, you aren't using that ecosystem anyway so who cares?

Ah, yes I think that now explains it for me.

 

[Razorpit]

I’m excited for Matter support but I don’t plan on upgrading the firmware on my existing Eve devices. Since I’m all in on HomeKit it doesn’t really gain me anything at this point.

I think a person has to be a masochist at this point to attempt something like this. This is a modern day Windows 95 to 98 upgrade (and not the "second edition" if you know what I mean.) I was young and single back then, but it still taught me a very important lesson in life. 😄

 

[Oddgeirf]

I have an old ipad mini on the wall that i use for homekit. The newest update it can get is ios12.
I have other devices updated to ios16 and also homepod mini.
Do all homekit-devices I use have to be on ios16 in order to work with matter-devices or will my ipad be useless when I update to matter?

 

[whsbuss]

Well I’m HomeKit controlled. Lights, climate and security by all HK devices. No need for matter at this point. Although I would consider a Nest thermostat if/when it supports matter.

 

[ipedro]

I have an old ipad mini on the wall that i use for homekit. The newest update it can get is ios12.
I have other devices updated to ios16 and also homepod mini.
Do all homekit-devices I use have to be on ios16 in order to work with matter-devices or will my ipad be useless when I update to matter?

Same situation. All devices logged into your Apple ID need to be on iOS 16 for the architecture update to apply. Any devices not on iOS/iPadOS 16 simply won't be able to control your home because they don't speak the same language, HomeKit 2.0 or Matter. I thought I could at least get the Phillips Hue app to control my lights but even that required a more recent iPadOS to update. I ended up sacrificing the old iPad on the wall and got a wall mounted Echo Show 15" to control my home.

 

[ipedro]

I haven't caught up with all the Matter stuff, but there's one thing I want to understand:

Will Alexa or Google devices in the future be controllable through the Home app via Matter? Showing up on my iPhone's control center, being controllable via Siri etc?

In Matter, you have Controllers and controllable devices. Alexa devices like all Echo speakers aren't controllable devices, they're Matter controllers that can control all Matter devices. Matter 1.0 does not yet address speakers but there's word that Apple and Google are talking about contributing to a standard that takes the best of AirPlay and Chromecast for an upcoming update to Matter.

If by Alexa devices, you mean devices like wall switches, smart plugs, lights, thermostats, etc that can be controlled by Alexa today, then yes, if their manufacturer updates them to Matter, then you'll be able to control them with the Home app and Siri, even if they never supported HomeKit.

We're still in an early era as existing devices get patchwork updated to Matter, but this finally solves the issue of low cost devices working with HomeKit. It was often financially unviable for device makers to support HomeKit so they only worked with Alexa and Google. HomeKit devices were typically more premium and came with a premium price. Now virtually anyone can build a Matter device since it's an open standard and it'll work with Apple's ecosystem. Get ready for a flood of smart home devices.

 

[Oddgeirf]

Same situation. All devices logged into your Apple ID need to be on iOS 16 for the architecture update to apply. Any devices not on iOS/iPadOS 16 simply won't be able to control your home because they don't speak the same language, HomeKit 2.0 or Matter. I thought I could at least get the Phillips Hue app to control my lights but even that required a more recent iPadOS to update. I ended up sacrificing the old iPad on the wall and got a wall mounted Echo Show 15" to control my home.

View attachment 2148831

Thank you

I will the hold off upgrading to the new architecture for now.
I hope I wont be forced to do it soon.

 

[droplink]

The conclusion I read, is that smarthomes are still dumb.
Matter might be an improvement, but it is still far away from being something the average joe can setup and be happy with.
The pairing / configuring process still takes time, still relies on odd functionality, and (presumably) will still disconnect occasionally.

 

[twistedpixel8]

I haven't caught up with all the Matter stuff, but there's one thing I want to understand:

Will Alexa or Google devices in the future be controllable through the Home app via Matter? Showing up on my iPhone's control center, being controllable via Siri etc?

I think the idea is that there won’t be “Alexa” devices or “google” devices, there will just be “Matter” devices that will work across all 3 (and any potentially future platforms). But in order for that to happen, existing devices will need a firmware update which is unlikely as the companies want you to buy more products so they’ll likely release new “Matter” versions.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Thank you

I will the hold off upgrading to the new architecture for now.
I hope I wont be forced to do it soon.

You won’t. It’s not even possible right now since Apple pulled the mechanism. It’s being rolled out again soon but will again be optional.

And in my opinion, if you’ve only got HomePod minis, don’t do it. I upgraded and my whole HomeKit setup got much slower. It’s because instead of your phone connecting to all your devices, on the new architecture your hub does that (whether that’s an AppleTV or a HomePod mini). And my phone is a very fast iPhone 13 Pro, my hub is the slow as hell HomePod.

I even nuked my setup entirely and built it again from scratch about a week ago. Same issue. Really slow to update the status of devices.

And before the nerds chime in with the tiresome “it’s your home network that’s the problem”: it isn’t. I’m also a nerd and my network is just fine.

 

[Powerbooky]

Advice regarding upgraded firmware to incorporate Matter is DON’T!

Had nothing but connectivity issues and “No Response” from all Eve devices since the upgrade and doesn’t appear that 16.3 has fixed the issue either

Good to know. Although I haven't seen that "update" to enable Matter in the Eve app.

I have like 12 Eve Energy plugs in use and the ones with Thread are super. Stable connection, fast response and very wide range too. Even the ones in our garage about 12-15 meters from the house, connect fine. The only thing I found out is that an Eve Energy has to be near a HomePod first in order to set it up with Thread. Otherwise it will default to Bluetooth. That happened recently to a new Eve Energy I tried to setup in the garage where there is already an Eve Energy with Thread enabled. I had to do the setup again in the house and then move it back to the garage.

I hope that Matter won't be forced on in the near future and that Thread will be the default option.

The only thing I would like to see is a more visual, graphical representation of the Thread network - the Thread network overview in the Eve app is unclear.

 

[Bl0ckHe1d]

Good to know. Although I haven't seen that "update" to enable Matter in the Eve app.

I have like 12 Eve Energy plugs in use and the ones with Thread are super. Stable connection, fast response and very wide range too. Even the ones in our garage about 12-15 meters from the house, connect fine. The only thing I found out is that an Eve Energy has to be near a HomePod first in order to set it up with Thread. Otherwise it will default to Bluetooth. That happened recently to a new Eve Energy I tried to setup in the garage where there is already an Eve Energy with Thread enabled. I had to do the setup again in the house and then move it back to the garage.

I hope that Matter won't be forced on in the near future and that Thread will be the default option.

The only thing I would like to see is a more visual, graphical representation of the Thread network - the Thread network overview in the Eve app is unclear.

I opted for the Eve Matter "early adoption" programme hence why I have the latest Matter firmware (3.1) on the available hardware. I cannot imagine that this will be a forced update, I am sure that you would be able to ignore it when it eventually appears on the Eve app around springtime as forecasted by Eve.

For me, 16.2 was a nightmare with its constant connectivity and "no response" issues. Hard to tell if 16.3 has fixed the issue since I am having the same issues, however I have currently disabled the Apple TV as Home Hub leaving the Home Hub designated to the HomePod mini and it now appears to be steady. Not sure if there is a conflict between the Apple TV and the HomePod mini when they switch over to be the "Connected" hub.

 

[compwiz1202]

The conclusion I read, is that smarthomes are still dumb.
Matter might be an improvement, but it is still far away from being something the average joe can setup and be happy with.
The pairing / configuring process still takes time, still relies on odd functionality, and (presumably) will still disconnect occasionally.

Yea it's wonderful when stuff works, but annoying as....when stuff doesn't, just like most convenience tech.