Why the Matter Protocol Hasn’t Lived Up to Its Promise

When the Matter protocol was first launched, it seemed like a breakthrough for smart homes. The idea was simple: create a universal standard allowing smart devices from different brands to work together, regardless of the platform or voice assistant you use.

Whether you use Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit, Matter promised to make all your smart devices such as lights, thermostats, door locks, and more work seamlessly together. This would address common issues like compatibility problems and the need for multiple apps to control devices.

However, even after Matter’s official launch, it has failed to meet all of its promises. One of the biggest reasons for this is fragmentation: the ongoing challenge of incompatible systems, devices, and apps. Despite Matter’s goal of reducing fragmentation, the problem still persists.

What Is Fragmentation in Smart Homes?

Fragmentation in smart homes occurs when different devices, platforms, and ecosystems don’t work well together. For example, a smart light bulb from one brand might not sync with the smart speakers or apps from another brand. You could need a special app for one brand, another for a different brand, and still another voice assistant for each system.

Before Matter, this fragmentation frustrated many users. You might have had lights that worked with Google Assistant but not Amazon Alexa, or a thermostat that worked with Apple HomeKit but not the Google app. Each new device added another layer of confusion, making it hard to build a truly integrated smart home.

Challenges for Matter

Matter Was Supposed to Solve Fragmentation

Matter was designed to fix these issues by providing a universal standard that would work across all ecosystems. A device that supports Matter should work with any voice assistant or smart home platform. The goal was to ensure all your devices—regardless of manufacturer or system—could work together.

Matter promised to end the need for multiple apps and make smart homes easier to manage. Yet, even with Matter’s launch, it has not fully achieved this vision. Ongoing fragmentation in the smart home space continues to hold back the protocol’s effectiveness. Here’s why.

Multiple Apps Are Still Required

One of Matter's main goals was to reduce the number of apps needed to control devices. But Matter has not eliminated the need for multiple apps. Even if your devices support Matter, you may still need to use Google Home, Apple Home, or Amazon Alexa to control them.

While Matter allows devices to function across different ecosystems, it doesn’t eliminate the need for these apps. You might have Matter-compatible devices, but you still have to switch between apps to control different parts of your smart home. This is exactly the problem Matter was supposed to solve.

Limited Device Compatibility

When Matter first launched, it promised broad support for a variety of devices. But even now, many popular devices aren’t compatible with Matter. Many well-known brands and products have yet to fully adopt the Matter standard, which limits its utility in real-world settings.

For instance, smart security cameras or kitchen appliances might not support Matter. Matter mainly supports lights, locks, and thermostats, but it still lags behind in other device categories. As a result, even though Matter aims to bring all devices together, significant gaps remain.

Partial Feature Support Across Platforms

Even when a device is Matter-compatible, it doesn’t always work the same way on all platforms. Matter promises to make devices work seamlessly across ecosystems, but sometimes it falls short.

For example, you might be able to turn on a smart light with Amazon Alexa, but only Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant will allow you to adjust the light’s color or brightness.

This partial compatibility forces users to consider which platform they’re using to access full features. Matter was meant to create universal compatibility, but it hasn’t yet fully delivered on that promise, contributing to the fragmentation it aimed to eliminate.

Manufacturers Still Prefer Their Own Ecosystems

Many manufacturers continue to prioritize their own ecosystems and protocols. For instance, Samsung SmartThings and Z-Wave remain popular in the smart home industry.

Even though Matter is designed as a universal standard, some manufacturers are hesitant to adopt it because they’ve already invested heavily in their own systems.

Companies like Nest and Philips Hue have established ecosystems that work well for their users, and switching to Matter isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. It often requires product updates or even new devices.

This slow transition keeps fragmentation alive, and it may take years for Matter to be fully embraced by all brands and devices.

Compatibility Doesn’t Always Mean Simplicity

Finally, even when Matter devices are compatible, setting them up can still be challenging. Users often expect that once a device supports Matter, it will be easy to get everything working with the push of a button.

However, the reality is that the setup process can involve multiple steps, troubleshooting, and updates. This complexity keeps the smart home experience fragmented, meaning Matter has not yet simplified the process as much as people hoped.

Matter Is a Step Forward, But Still Fragmented

While the Matter protocol represents progress for smart homes, it hasn’t fully solved the issue of fragmentation. The continued need for multiple apps, limited device compatibility, partial feature support, and manufacturers’ loyalty to existing ecosystems still make the smart home market fragmented.

Matter has made improvements, but the industry remains divided, and it will likely take years before all devices are fully integrated and work seamlessly together. Until that happens, Matter is just one piece of the puzzle. The dream of a fully unified smart home experience remains a work in progress.