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By
Jon Bitner
Matter is arguably the biggest thing to happen to smart homes since their inception. The interoperability feature lets devices from different ecosystems interact with each other, giving you the freedom to shop for your favorite products regardless of manufacturer. Unfortunately, not all devices have rolled out support for Matter – and not all of them will.
Only a few notable products support Matter as of today, although dozens more are expected to add the functionality in the coming months. For now, here are the five best smart home products that support Matter. For a full list, head over to the official Matter website.
Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen)
Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Echo Show 15
Eve Door & Window Sensors
Apple HomePod mini
Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen)
Pros
- Compact footprint
- Vastly improved sound quality
- Clock shows more useful info
- New temperature sensor
- Added Wi-Fi features
Cons
- Only works as Wi-Fi booster if you’re already on Amazon eero network
Amazon recently brought Matter support to a slew of devices, but the Echo Dot with Clock is arguably one of the most exciting. Available for just $60 (and often on sale), the Dot is a surprisingly great smart speaker. Not only does it sound good, but the simplistic HUD allows you to quickly check the time or get the current weather forecast. Toss in Matter and the availability of various color options, and it’s easy to see why the Echo Dot with Clock is one of the best smart speakers around.
Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen)
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Pros
- Accurate sleep tracking
- Tons of data about your sleep
- $100 starting price
Cons
- Few new features over previous model
Just like Amazon, Google pushed a Matter update to many of its devices at the tail end of 2022. The Nest Hub was included in that wave of updates, giving the popular smart display the ability to interact with other Matter devices. Google Assistant is just as powerful as ever, and the vibrant 7-inch display lets you stream your favorite shows, load up your calendar, play music, or get a quick tutorial on how to cook up a new dish.
Echo Show 15
Pros
- Huge 15.6-inch screen
- Widget functionality makes it easy to see tasks, smart home, and more at a glance
- Different orientation options
- Visual ID swaps between users
Cons
- Lacks customization and personalization options
- Software crashes without explanation
Need something a bit larger than your standard smart display? Check out the Amazon Echo Show 15, which boasts a gorgeous 15-inch display and fully supports Matter. It’s a bit expensive, but you won’t find many other products like the Echo Show 15 (let alone one that also supports Matter).
Eve Door & Window Sensors
Pros
- Easy to use
- Tons of versatility
- Sleek design
Now that the Eve Door & Window Sensor supports Matter, keeping your home secure has never been easier. Beyond knowing whether your doors (or windows) are open or shut, you can trigger various events based on their status — such as turning on lights or shutting off your furnace. You’ll need to join the Early Access program to make use of the features, but that’s a minor inconvenience for a lot of nifty smart home tech.
Eve Door & Window Sensors
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Apple HomePod mini
Pros
- Computational audio optimizes the experience
- Clean-sounding highs and mids
- Compact size makes it discrete
- It’s the most affordable HomeKit home hub
Cons
- Siri lacks the advanced intelligence of its competitors
- Short power cord
Another entry on this list, another smart speaker to discuss. This class of products has been widely updated to support Matter, as they serve as central hubs for most smart homes. The Apple HomePod mini rounds out the big three (Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri), giving you the option to use just about any ecosystem as the center of your Matter-connected smart home. Siri might not be quite as versatile as the competition, but no doubt iOS fans will be glad to have the new functionality offered by Matter.
Zeke Jones/Digital Trends
HomePod
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Incredible bass performance
- Dazzling Spatial Audio surround
- Plug and Play wireless
- Slick design
Cons
- Limited connection options
- No direct Spotify playback
Take everything that makes the HomePod mini so great, mix them together with a larger design and better speakers, and you’ve built the new HomePod. The latest member of Apple’s smart home family offers full support for Matter, making it a great central pillar for anyone piecing together a connected network of devices. Beyond Matter, you’ll benefit from high-fidelity audio powered by a four-inch high-excursion woofer, five tweeters, and Spatial Audio along with Room sensing to optimize performance based on the acoustics of your home. It’s not cheap, clocking in at $299, but few Matter products are as powerful and versatile as the HomePod.
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The 10 best smart home products not made by Google or Amazon (or their subsidiaries)
Amazon and Google might dominate the smart home market, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only companies churning out high-end products in that category. Companies like Wyze, Arlo, and even Apple have shown time and again they’re capable of competing with the two well-known companies — and they’ve got plenty of highly rated products to prove it.
If you don’t want to pick up smart home products from Amazon or Google (or their subsidiaries), here are the best smart home products to buy.
Get two Alexa and Google Assistant smart bulbs for $5 today
If you’re looking to add some smart lighting to your home without spending a fortune, Lenovo has a great deal right now on its Lenovo Smart Bulbs. You can buy two for just $5 saving you $23 off the regular price of $28. A saving of 82% is not to be missed and these light bulbs are a great way to dip your toe into smart lighting for less. Let’s take a look at why they’re worth it.
Why you should buy the Lenovo Smart Bulb
It’s easy to think you need to spend a fortune on the best smart light bulbs but that’s not always the case. The market for the best cheap smart bulbs is steadily growing with Lenovo keeping things super cheap here. The Lenovo Smart Color Light Bulb is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s possible to adjust brightness and temperature to suit the mood throughout the day. You can also dim the lights or change colors to get things just how you like them. There’s a choice of 16 million colors as well as unable white which adjusts the light temperature from 2700K to 6500K.
The best Google smart speakers of 2023
Smart speakers are among the most popular smart home products on the market, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Google has quickly become one of the most popular smart home ecosystems, with its Google Assistant and Google Home platforms capable of interacting with hundreds of other products and carrying out your voice commands with ease.
Whether you need something to listen to music, sync up with the rest of your home, or just want a good-looking device, here are the best Google smart speakers of 2023. Not all of them are manufactured by Google, but every product on this list offers full support for Google Assistant.
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Jon Bitner