Latest Matter Update Focuses On Smoother Smart Home Setup
The Matter smart home Paul Lamkin
The latest Matter update is here, but instead of shiny new device types, version 1.4.1 is all about behind-the-scenes improvements for you to get your smart home devices up and running with less hassle.
This is the first time the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has released a 'minor' Matter update, under a new naming system that separates major and minor versions.
In the past couple of years we've seen standard 'dot' updates, like December's 1.4 launch that added the likes of hybrid solar/battery systems, battery walls, storage units, heat pumps and water heaters to the mix.
The CSA isn't relenting on its bi-annual update cadence for Matter, but we're told that the 'dot' numbering will be for major releases and the 'dot dot' for minor releases… so we can consider 2025's first update minor.
However, there's plenty in the update to get Matter users excited about, and you could argue that these application refinements are more useful than expanding device categories at this point.
That's because Matter 1.4.1 is entirely focused on making setup easier and more consistent across devices and ecosystems, which has been a huge bugbear for smart home enthusiasts getting to grips with the Big-Tech-backed smart home standard over the last couple of years.
1.4.1 introduces three new features: an Enhanced Setup Flow, multi-device QR codes, and NFC onboarding - all aimed at reducing friction and improving the user experience when adding new Matter devices to your system.
Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF) makes it possible for manufacturers to display their terms and conditions (and collect user consent) directly within the ecosystem app you're using to onboard a device.
That might sound pretty dry but it should mean less jumping around different apps just to accept legal terms before setup can finish.
A more visible update is the QR code one. If you've ever set up a multi-pack of smart bulbs or plugs, you know the pain of scanning each device's QR code separately, waiting for one to finish before starting on the next.
Matter 1.4.1 introduces support for a multi-device QR code, which lets brands place a single code on the box that can onboard several devices at once. This should be a big time-saver once the major players like Amazon, Apple, Google and Samsung allow it within their respective ecosystems.
The 1.4.1 bump also adds support for embedding onboarding data into NFC tags, meaning you'll soon be able to tap your phone to a device to begin the setup process, with no camera or QR code scanning needed.
This will be especially useful for products where the QR code is hidden after installation, such as light switches or ceiling-mounted fixtures.
Until now QR codes and manual numeric codes were the Matter onboarding methods, so the addition of NFC tapping gives users more flexibility depending on their setup situation.
So while we'll have to wait for 1.5 for new device types (speakers and security cameras please), the enhancements 1.4.1 brings could significantly cut down on setup frustrations, especially for less tech-savvy users or those just starting to build out a smart home.
It's just what Matter needed.
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