Matter 1.5 released — smart‑home standard adds cameras, garage doors and more

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has published Matter 1.5, the next update to the open smart‑home interoperability standard. The new specification expands supported device categories and capabilities — most notably adding cameras and garage door controllers — and lets manufacturers begin certifying products under the updated spec.

Matter 1.5 is being rolled out to device makers and platform partners, who can now build and certify devices that join Matter ecosystems. That means future cameras and garage‑door integrations will be able to interoperate across Matter‑compatible ecosystems without vendor lock‑in.

Key additions in Matter 1.5

• Cameras as a device class: For the first time Matter supports cameras, enabling standardized discovery, connectivity and (in many cases) interoperability for streaming, motion events and snapshot access across platforms.
• Garage door controllers: Matter 1.5 includes support for garage doors and similar access‑control devices, easing integration into home automations and routines.
• Broader device coverage: The update brings additional device types and feature refinements, improving the protocol’s reach across smart‑home categories.
• Certification path: Manufacturers can certify Matter 1.5 devices so they work across certified hubs, voice assistants and apps.

Why this matters

Adding cameras and access controllers is a significant step toward fuller smart‑home interoperability. Cameras in particular have been a sticking point for cross‑vendor compatibility; Matter 1.5 aims to standardize how cameras expose events and feeds while preserving user control through established privacy and permission models.

For consumers, the update should mean easier device setup, less fragmentation between ecosystems and more choice when mixing products from different brands. For integrators and platform developers, Matter 1.5 reduces the engineering burden of supporting many proprietary APIs.

Things to watch

• Rollout speed — device availability will depend on manufacturers updating firmware or shipping new Matter‑1.5‑certified hardware.
• Privacy & security — cameras introduce new privacy considerations; expect vendors and platforms to document permission models and local vs. cloud processing options.
• Interoperability nuances — while Matter standardizes many behaviors, vendor features and cloud services may still offer differentiated capabilities.

For the official details and technical documentation, visit the Connectivity Standards Alliance (opens in a new tab): csa-iot.org.

Discussion: Does Matter 1.5 — especially camera and garage‑door support — make you more likely to buy Matter‑certified devices? What privacy or feature safeguards would you expect from camera integrations?