Matter 1.3 introduces support for 9 new categories

The Communications Standards Alliance released its first major update to Matter last year. The update to version 1.2 introduced support for home appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. You can now also connect smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to the material’s ecosystem. Article 1.3 builds on this success, the CSA said in a statement press release. Support for home appliances in particular has been expanded.

Updates in Issue 1.3

In addition to home appliances, the smart home standard with version 1.3 adds support for home electric vehicle chargers and energy and water management. A total of nine new product types have been added to the Smart Home Standard:

• Microwave: Users can control cooking time, power level and operating mode, and receive notifications such as “end of cycle” or “food ready” when the microwave has finished working.
• oven: Configurations such as built-in, free-standing or as part of a cooker with an associated hob are included in Article 1.3. Each oven compartment can be controlled individually from the perspective of the operating mode (standard, convection bake, roast, steam, roast/broil, high) and temperature setting with information about the oven status (i.e. preheating or cooling). Notifications such as preheating and target temperature reached are supported.
• Heaters: With Matter 1.3, there is support for burners, allowing remote access and control. The individual elements of the stove allow the temperature to be controlled and measured, provided that regulations allow this.
• Extractor cover: Matter 1.3 supports hobs and hobs with extractor hoods. This allows control of the light and fan settings of these devices, as well as the condition/age of the filter material used.
• Broken dryers: Washing machines have been supported since Matter 1.2, and this time CSA is also adding support for clothes dryers. Users can select the correct mode and target temperature and start or stop the dryer remotely, depending on local regulations.
• Energy management: From Article 1.3, devices can report how much energy they consume, either by predicting this or providing actual consumption figures. This information about consumption or generated energy can be viewed in real time.
• Home charger for electric vehicles: It is possible to start or stop charging manually, adjust the charging speed or specify the number of kilometers to be added at a specific departure time, with the charging station automatically optimizing the charging process so that it occurs at the cheapest and least carbon-intensive times.
• Water management: Support for leak and freeze detectors, rain sensors and adjustable water valves provides homeowners with better water monitoring, management and protection in and around their homes.

Scene support

Matter 1.3 also adds support for so-called scenes. We’ve known about such presets for some time through smart bulbs, where you can save certain settings. From version 1.3, you can also create such presets for Matter equipment. For example, you can turn off all the lights on a particular floor in one fell swoop and close the roller blinds instantly.

Introducing the new version of Matter

The Communications Standards Alliance says the SDK for Matter 1.3 is now available to smart home manufacturers. They can now add the standard to their devices. Smart home hub makers can now also add the standard. It is not yet clear when the first devices that support Matter 1.3 will arrive. CSA has not issued any statements on this matter yet.