Achieving HomeKit compatibility for smart home devices has become considerably simpler. Apple has announced that it will recognize Matter certification for all new products, eliminating the requirement for further testing before issuing the Works With Apple Home badge.
Although the initial intention was that Matter support would guarantee seamless compatibility across HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings, the reality often differed from the expectations …
Understanding the Matter Standard: Theory vs. Practice
Before the Matter standard emerged, each smart home product had to obtain unique compatibility with every major smart home platform they aimed to support.
Manufacturers were required to submit requests to Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, then have their devices undergo specific testing by each entity. This prolonged the product development timeline and increased costs.
The Matter standard was designed to address these challenges. With support from all major platforms, the expectation was that any Matter-compatible device would inherently be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.
However, in practice, none of the smart home platforms assumed this. Each still mandated that devices undergo their own evaluation processes before awarding their Works With badges.
Assumption of HomeKit Compatibility
Now, though, Apple has agreed to recognize Matter certification as valid proof of HomeKit compatibility, bypassing any additional testing requirements. As long as a device successfully passes all Matter evaluations, it will be permitted to use the Works With Apple Home badge.
This update was revealed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance.
A significant aspect of many device manufacturers’ market strategy is obtaining “Works With” certifications and badges from major smart home ecosystems. These programs typically require manufacturers to complete the Alliance’s certification process and independently participate in testing for each specific ecosystem.
Recognizing the need for a smoother end-to-end certification experience, the Alliance is happy to announce that Apple has begun accepting Alliance Interop Lab test results for Matter devices for Works With Apple Home, and similarly, Google and Samsung will follow suit for their respective certifications in the near future, further enhancing the reliability of the Alliance’s testing programs.
The Lab is also collaborating with other members [notably Amazon] to incorporate additional “Works With” programs.
Streamlined Certification for Enhanced Versions
Another challenge for smart home devices was that software updates for existing products had to undergo the same certification process as the initial products, causing delays and increasing costs for over-the-air improvements.
The CSA has now established a more efficient process, which simply verifies that devices continue to operate as intended.
In November 2024, the Matter Working Group launched the FastTrack Recertification Program. This new recertification initiative simplifies the procedure, significantly cutting costs and administrative demands for manufacturers. This allows manufacturers to implement essential updates more easily and leverage the Interop Lab for a “light touch” check that confirms updates do not inadvertently impair functionality or performance when interacting with other popular devices and systems.
Manufacturers can also receive certification for conducting their own evaluations using the CSA’s test suite.
Photo by Patrick Campanale on Unsplash
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