One protocol to rule them all. That was the dream behind Matter—a universal standard designed so any smart home device would work seamlessly on any platform, whether you preferred Google, Apple, or Amazon. In theory, Matter was meant to be the peace treaty that finally unified the fractured smart home world. But as the dust settles, many users are discovering that instead of simplifying the landscape, Matter may have made the smart home more complicated than ever.
Right now, my smart home consists mostly of a mix of smart bulbs and lamps, with a few extras sprinkled in—a tower fan, an air conditioner, and, inexplicably, a microwave. The bulbs are from Linkind (AIDot), while the lamps and fan are from Govee, the air conditioner from LG, and the microwave by Samsung. All my lighting integrates happily with Apple Home, but also appears in Google Home and Amazon. The fan, however, lacks Matter support, so it has to be controlled through the Govee Home app—or, worse, manually. My LG air conditioner works with Google and Amazon, but only the LG Thinq app offers the granular controls I need. Oddly, the Thinq app can pull devices from Apple Home into its dashboard, but not the other way around, so the AC remains stuck outside Apple’s ecosystem.
Easier to Connect, Still Hard to Control
Whew. Confused yet? Try juggling all these different apps. Sometimes, it’s just easier to get up and use the switches.
Matter was supposed to make smart home integration easier—and in some ways, it actually has. Six months ago, I never would have imagined having this many lights connected through Apple Home, or being able to enjoy the same convenience with Google Home for those moments I reach for my Android phone. But some limitations remain: my Govee lamps offer wild lighting customizations, but those only work through the Govee app—not Apple Home. Similarly, I can’t reset the air conditioner’s filter in Google Home; that function’s locked to the LG Thinq app. For the record, I’m only using Amazon to test out Alexa+ features.
The Hidden Cost: A new layer of hardware and complexity
One of the biggest hurdles to Matter’s promise of simplicity is its reliance on Thread, a mesh networking protocol that often requires specialized hardware. Devices like the Apple TV, HomePod mini, Amazon Echo, and Google Nest Hub serve as “Thread Border Routers”—bridging Thread-connected products to your Wi-Fi and integrating them into your preferred smart home dashboard. For most users, the need for this extra hardware to achieve full compatibility adds cost and confusion, which goes against the streamlined experience Matter was meant to deliver.
Personally, I’m glad to have an Apple TV 4K; without it, I wouldn’t be able to complain—I’d simply have no devices in Apple Home at all.
Pairing Matter devices is undeniably easier now, increasing the likelihood that each gadget ends up in your preferred ecosystem. Yet one major drawback remains: managing these devices still requires juggling a patchwork of manufacturer apps alongside your chosen smart home hub. The devices may be technically “open,” but many of their features and customizations remain frustratingly locked away.
The New Walled Gardens: How AI is Undermining Unity
It’s not clear if many are talking about this, but there’s a real risk that major smart home platforms could undermine universality through “hub-first” AI features locked within their own ecosystems. Google, for example, just announced Gemini-powered upgrades for Google Home and Nest cameras, such as facial recognition and lost pet assistance. These features, while smart, work only in Google Home with Google-specific hardware. My Aqara video doorbell uses ultra-wideband chips to know if I’m home or away and adjusts streaming automatically—but that only works with Apple.
As a result, the promise of simplicity and interoperability from open protocols like Matter often feels more theoretical than real. With open standards in place, why can’t everyone have the best features—regardless of which hub or device they choose? If the goal is a truly unified smart home, why are consumers still being forced to pick a side?
A Flawed Victory Over ‘Network Anxiety’
Ultimately, Matter is a strong technological foundation—exactly the sort of universal protocol the smart home world should have prioritized from the start. The protocol itself is sound. But the real-world execution has become increasingly confusing and frustrating, with big companies jockeying for control over how users interact with their devices. In that sense, not much has changed.
Perhaps the real victory isn’t just connecting gadgets under one roof, but finally eliminating the fear that your devices won’t talk to each other—the network anxiety. After spending three weeks fine-tuning my iPhone, the last thing I want is to waste another three weeks troubleshooting why my smart plug and Apple TV won’t connect.