Matter roadmap Q1 2027: what's shipping next
Two Matter releases landed in 2025–2026 and are now making their way into products: Matter 1.5 (new device categories, especially cameras and closures) and Matter 1.6 (setup, multi-ecosystem and thermostat improvements). This guide explains what each added, what it means for buyers in early 2027, and which platforms are adopting them — grounded in MatterCheck's seven-platform matrix.
Matter 1.5: cameras, doorbells and closures
Matter 1.5 brought the device categories that were the biggest holes in the standard: cameras and video doorbells, and closures (garage doors and gates). Adoption is uneven. As of MatterCheck's last sweep, SmartThings was the first of the major platforms with Matter camera support, while Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa still route cameras through their own ecosystems (HomeKit Secure Video, Google/Amazon camera stacks), and Home Assistant's Matter camera support was still in development. See the Matter cameras and video doorbells and garage door opener guides.
Matter 1.6: setup, multi-ecosystem and thermostat smarts
The CSA released Matter 1.6 on 2026-06-17 as a focused feature release. The headline items:
- NFC-Based Commissioning. Pair a device over NFC before it's even powered on — useful for ceiling fixtures and in-wall switches you install after setup.
- Joint Fabric. A new multi-admin path where several authorized controllers co-administer one shared Matter network, ideal for households running multiple platforms and for professional installs.
- Thermostat Suggestions. Ecosystems send time-bound suggestions instead of direct commands, and the thermostat decides against user preferences — so a demand-response or energy-saving setting isn't silently overridden.
- Core refinements. Standardized device capability/limits reporting, security-sensor event history, a smoke/CO "unmounted" state, and partitioned certificate revocation lists.
Matter 1.6 does not add new device categories; it makes the existing ones easier to set up and coordinate across ecosystems. See Matter versions explained.
What to expect in Q1 2027
- Platform adoption rolls out slowly. SmartThings and Home Assistant list Matter 1.6; Alexa lists 1.5; Apple and Google publish no version number. A spec release is not a product — each platform and maker ships on its own timeline, so expect features to trickle in rather than appear everywhere at once.
- Cameras stay the wildcard. Matter 1.5 cameras are the category to watch; broader platform support (Apple, Google, Alexa) is the thing to check before buying a "Matter camera."
- Apple's Home Collection rolls out fully. The LG/Schneider cameras, deadbolt, thermostats and sensors ship through December 2026 into early 2027 — but note the cameras are HomeKit Secure Video, not Matter. See the ship date guide.
- More 1.6-era products. Expect NFC-commissioned fixtures and Joint Fabric features to arrive with 2027 device launches, led by platforms that already list 1.6.
What it means for buyers
- Buy for what works today, not the version number. The version a platform lists says little about which device types it pairs — check the matrix row for the device you want.
- Cameras: wait or verify. If you want a camera that shares across platforms, confirm the specific platform supports Matter cameras before buying; otherwise Apple/Google/Alexa's own camera routes are the safe bet.
- Thermostats: 1.6 helps, but the trigger gap remains. Thermostat Suggestions improves multi-ecosystem comfort control, but a thermostat starting an Apple Home or Alexa automation is still Med/Unknown in MatterCheck's data.
Frequently asked questions
What did Matter 1.5 add?
Cameras and video doorbells, plus closures such as garage doors and gates. SmartThings was first with Matter camera support, while Apple, Google and Alexa still route cameras through their own ecosystems.
What did Matter 1.6 add?
Setup and coordination rather than new categories: NFC-based commissioning, Joint Fabric multi-admin, Thermostat Suggestions, plus capability reporting, sensor event history and certificate-revocation refinements.
When will my platform support these?
Slowly. SmartThings and Home Assistant list Matter 1.6, Alexa lists 1.5, and Apple and Google publish no version number. A spec release is not a product, so check the platform before buying.
How we checked
Matter 1.6 details come from the CSA announcement; platform and device support come from the MatterCheck matrix, last checked 2026-10-16 to 2026-10-19. See the methodology and the live matrix.
Last reviewed 2026-10-22. Roadmaps are forward-looking and change; verify before you buy.