Samsung Electronics' SmartThings smart home platform has proactively adopted the new global smart home standard Matter 1.6, accelerating its expansion into broader domains.
As the Matter ecosystem, initially centered around lighting and sensors, expands into home appliances, cameras, and energy management, this move is interpreted as a strategic effort to strengthen interoperability between smart home platforms.
According to the global standards organization CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance), Samsung Electronics' SmartThings Hub platform obtained Matter 1.6 certification last month. Matter 1.6, unveiled by CSA in June, marks the first certification achieved by Samsung in the industry.
Since its initial release in 2022, Matter has continuously expanded its supported domains. Matter 1.6 introduces the 'Joint Fabric' feature, enabling shared management of devices across multiple smart home platforms without separate registrations. This reduces setup and management steps for households using multiple platforms, new constructions, or rental/managed properties.
The standard also enhances NFC-based device registration. Even unpowered switches or lights can now be registered by tapping a smartphone before installation. Previously, NFC read the device information, and Bluetooth completed the registration. This allows bulk pre-registration of devices before on-site installation in large-scale smart home deployments.
Alongside adopting the latest Matter standard, Samsung is continuously expanding the range of devices compatible with SmartThings. This month, the company began distributing the official firmware update for the hub.
The smart home industry views the Matter ecosystem as transitioning from its initial setup phase to a full-scale expansion stage. Since the first specification was released in 2022, the scope has broadened from simple devices like lighting, plugs, and sensors to include door locks, home appliances, energy management, and robot vacuums. With the release of Matter 1.5 last year, support was extended to security cameras.
Global manufacturer participation is also expanding. IKEA is releasing over 20 Matter-based lighting, sensor, and remote control products this year, expanding the application of universal standards from its existing proprietary smart home ecosystem. Domestically, the AI Smart Home Industry Association is actively training planners and developers to launch products compliant with the Matter 1.6 specification. Samsung Electronics is also expanding an environment where third-party Matter devices can be connected without a separate hub by embedding SmartThings Hub functionality into TVs and appliances.
A Samsung Electronics representative stated, “This is to ensure connectivity not only for large home appliances but also for small ones,” adding, “We are proactively responding to global standard changes.”
