Should You Upgrade to Matter 1.5? What Changes for Your Smart Home

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Matter was supposed to unify the smart home. Two years in, the reality is messier—but Matter 1.5 is the first version that genuinely delivers on the promise. With camera support, energy management, and the end of Thread 1.3 certification, January 2026 is the first time upgrading actually makes sense for most households. (This guide is part of our Smart Home Guide 2026 series.)

What Changed in Matter 1.5

Matter 1.5, released late 2025, adds the features that were conspicuously absent from earlier versions:

• Camera support — The biggest missing piece. Stream, record, and manage cameras across platforms
• Energy management — Smart plugs and EV chargers can report energy consumption to your platform
• Robot vacuum support — Clean, dock, and schedule across any compatible platform
• Improved commissioning — Device setup is faster and more reliable than Matter 1.0-1.2
• Enhanced multi-admin — Devices shared across platforms (Apple Home + Google Home) work more reliably

Meanwhile, Thread 1.3 devices are no longer being certified as of January 1, 2026. New Thread devices must support Thread 1.4+, which improves mesh networking range and reliability.

The Platform Gap: Where Each Ecosystem Stands

Google Home is stuck on Matter 1.2, which means no camera support and limited energy management features. If you’re a Google household, hold off on Matter cameras until Q3 2026 at the earliest. Amazon is slightly ahead but still behind on the features that matter most.

SmartThings and Home Assistant lead the pack. Apple Home is close behind with strong camera support via HomeKit Secure Video integration. If cross-platform compatibility is your main concern, our smart home interoperability guide covers how to bridge the gaps between ecosystems.

Best Matter 1.5 Devices (Early 2026)

Cameras

Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro — $90

The first Matter-native camera worth buying. Doubles as a Thread border router, handles local AI detection (person, pet, package), and works across SmartThings, Apple Home, and Home Assistant. The image quality won’t match a Nest Cam, but the cross-platform flexibility is unmatched. Its local AI detection also means your footage stays off the cloud — a growing trend we explore in our piece on edge AI in the smart home. For a full comparison of AI security cameras including subscription costs and detection accuracy, see our AI-powered home security camera guide.

Eve Cam 2 — $150

Premium option for Apple households. HomeKit Secure Video with local processing—video analysis happens on your Apple TV or HomePod, not in the cloud. Matter support means it also works with SmartThings.

Sensors

IKEA PARASOLL / VALLHORN — $8-10 each

IKEA’s sub-$10 Matter sensors (door/window and motion) are the best way to test the waters without financial commitment. They work across all major platforms and pair in under 30 seconds. The battery life exceeds one year.

Aqara Door & Window Sensor P2 — $18

Thread-based with faster response times than IKEA’s sensors. Includes temperature monitoring and configurable alert modes.

Lighting

Nanoleaf Essentials A19 (Matter) — $20

Thread-based smart bulbs with fast response times. Each bulb extends your Thread mesh network, improving reliability for other Thread devices.

Philips Hue (via Matter bridge) — Existing setups

If you already own Hue, a firmware update to the Hue Bridge enables Matter. Your existing bulbs become Matter-accessible without replacement.

Should You Upgrade Your Existing Setup?

The Bridge Strategy

You don’t need to replace everything at once. Matter bridges from Philips Hue, IKEA, and SwitchBot let old and new devices coexist. Add Matter devices for new purchases while keeping your existing ecosystem running through its bridge. This is the most practical approach for most households. For a deeper look at the bridge strategy and how to connect incompatible protocols, see our smart home interoperability guide.

Thread vs. WiFi Matter Devices

Matter devices connect via two protocols: Thread (mesh networking, low power) and WiFi (direct connection, higher power). The choice matters:

• Thread devices — Sensors, switches, locks. Low power, extend mesh, don’t burden your WiFi network. Preferred for battery-powered devices.
• WiFi devices — Cameras, plugs, appliances. Higher bandwidth for video streaming. Use your existing network.

You need at least one Thread border router for Thread devices to work. Apple TV 4K, HomePod Mini, Aqara M3 Hub, and many SmartThings hubs include one. Check before buying Thread sensors.

The Verdict

Matter 1.5 is the first version that justifies the hype. Camera support, energy management, and improved reliability make it a genuine upgrade over proprietary ecosystems—if your platform supports it.

For SmartThings and Apple Home users, start buying Matter for new devices. For Google Home users, the wait continues. For everyone, IKEA’s $8-10 sensors are a risk-free entry point to see how Matter performs in your home before committing further.

Not sure if your current devices are compatible with Matter 1.5? Use our Smart Home Compatibility Checker to find out which of your devices can upgrade and which need bridging.

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This guide is part of our Smart Home Guide 2026 series. Related reading:

• Smart Home Interoperability in 2026: Getting Your Devices to Actually Talk
• Edge AI in Your Home: Why Smart Devices Are Ditching the Cloud
• AI-Powered Home Security in 2026: What Actually Deters Break-ins
• Home Energy Independence 2026: Solar + Storage + Smart Grid Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my existing smart home devices become obsolete?

No. Zigbee and Z-Wave devices will continue working through their existing hubs for years. Matter is additive—it doesn’t disable existing protocols. The practical approach is to buy Matter for new devices while keeping your current setup running.

Can one device work with Apple Home AND Google Home simultaneously?

Yes—this is Matter’s core promise. A single Matter device can be “multi-admin,” meaning it’s controlled by multiple platforms simultaneously. In practice, this works well for lights and sensors but can be inconsistent for more complex devices. Reliability has improved significantly with Matter 1.4+.

Do I need a Thread border router?

Only for Thread-based Matter devices (mostly sensors and switches). WiFi-based Matter devices connect directly to your router. If you have an Apple TV 4K, HomePod Mini, or recent SmartThings hub, you likely already have a Thread border router. Check your device specs before purchasing Thread sensors.