The Matter smart-home standard keeps evolving. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced Matter 1.5 in November 2025, followed by version 1.5.1 in 2026. This article gives a broad overview of what changed.
Summary in 3 lines
According to a CSA announcement in November 2025, Matter 1.5 adds several device categories: cameras, window coverings, doors and soil sensors. Matter 1.5.1 in 2026 adjusts cameras, doorbells and intercoms, while Matter 1.4.2 adds Wi-Fi-only commissioning. Technical details should be checked directly on the CSA website before real-world use.
Matter 1.5: new device categories
According to CSA's announcement in November 2025, Matter 1.5 introduces several new device categories: cameras, window coverings, doors and soil sensors. This is notable because it shows the smart-home standard is no longer limited to light bulbs and plugs. It is widening to devices tied to security and the environment. The soil sensor category is one example that connects to growing plants at home or in a small garden.
Matter 1.5.1: cameras, doorbells and intercoms
According to information reported in 2026, Matter 1.5.1 follows Matter 1.5 and focuses on cameras, doorbells and intercoms. Point releases like this are generally refinements of what already exists rather than entirely new concepts. Still, the detailed content of each change should be read from CSA's own documents, since this article does not go into the technical specification.
Matter 1.4.2: Wi-Fi-only commissioning
According to CSA information from 2026, Matter 1.4.2 adds Wi-Fi-only commissioning. Commissioning is the process of adding a device to a smart-home network for the first time. For people interested in Wi-Fi devices, a setup path that relies on Wi-Fi may simplify the first steps. The actual result will depend on how each manufacturer implements it.
What to verify before real-world use
This article is based on announcements and news reports, and some items do not carry a precise date (only the year 2026). Before planning a product or choosing devices, check the CSA website yourself for the announced versions, the supported device categories and the latest certification requirements.
How this relates to TMRX
Matter is mainly a smart-home standard, while TMRX focuses on sensor data and IoT. Our website lists the XIAO ESP32C6 board, which according to the product information supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), BLE 5.0, 802.15.4 (Zigbee) and is listed as Matter-ready / Thread. It may be worth considering for anyone who wants to experiment in this area. We do not claim that any TMRX board or product implements the full Matter standard; real use still requires further development and verification.
Sources
Connectivity Standards Alliance (Matter 1.5) — https://csa-iot.org — November 2025 Connectivity Standards Alliance (Matter 1.5.1 and 1.4.2) — https://csa-iot.org — 2026 Neowin (Matter 1.4.2) — 2026 (publication date unknown)
