17 Amazon Echo Devices Now Compatible With Matter Standard - PCMag

Amazon this week unveiled the archetypal 17 Echo devices that are compatible with Matter, the global, open-source modular that lets internet-connected machines from antithetic manufacturers simply and securely connect.

The archetypal signifier of Amazon's Matter rollout includes a scope of Echo smart speakers and displays (see afloat database below), which tin beryllium utilized to power astute plugs, bulbs, and switches. Broader Matter enactment for much devices volition rotation retired successful aboriginal 2023, Amazon says; support an oculus connected its developer portal(Opens successful a caller window) for details.

"From the beginning, it's been our extremity to marque Alexa compatible with arsenic galore astute location devices arsenic possible—regardless of the protocols connected which they're built," according to(Opens successful a caller window) Marja Koopmans, manager of Smart Home astatine Amazon. "Now, with Matter, [customers] volition person adjacent much merchandise enactment to take from arsenic they physique a astute location that's close for them."

There is simply a caveat, though: The diagnostic is constricted to those with an Android phone and requires a location web transportation implicit Wi-Fi. Support for iOS and networking protocol Thread is expected adjacent year, according to The Verge(Opens successful a caller window), which tipped Matter compatibility with Amazon-owned Eero devices successful 2023, too.

Why does this, um, matter? Well, unless your astute location is kitted retired with 1 marque and 1 marque only—Amazon, Apple, Google, etc.—linking devices and accounts is simply a multi-step headache that doesn't ever work. Enter Matter, which promises to assistance manufacturers much easy physique devices that are compatible with assorted platforms, careless of its maker.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) (formerly Zigbee Alliance) in October released Matter 1.0 with 8 authorized trial labs for companies that program to follow the standard. Initially, Matter volition tally implicit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy, with enactment for a fistful of communal astute location products similar lighting and electrical, HVAC controls, model coverings and shades, information and information sensors, doorway locks, media devices, and bridges.

In presumption of security, Matter relies connected distributed ledger exertion and Public Key Infrastructure to validate instrumentality certification and provenance, ensuring users are connecting authentic, certified, and up-to-date devices to their homes and networks.

Google and Samsung successful October embraced Matter, inviting folks to seamlessly find, connect, and power devices done the SmartThings oregon Google Home Android apps, respectively. Moving forward, users tin take to onboard Google devices to the SmartThings app, oregon vice versa. No much manually adding each instrumentality 1 astatine a clip oregon trying to retrieve which ecosystem was archetypal utilized to acceptable things up.

Amazon teased upcoming announcements astatine CES, which runs from Jan. 5-8.

The archetypal 17 Echo devices that enactment arsenic Matter controllers:

• Echo (v3)

• Echo (4th Gen)

• Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018 release)

• Echo Dot (Gen 3 with Clock)

• Echo Dot Gen 4

• Echo Dot (Gen 4 with Clock)

• Echo Dot (5th Gen)

• Echo Dot (5th Gen) with clock

• Echo Show 5

• Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)

• Echo Show 8

• Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)

• Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

• Echo Show 15

• Echo Flex

• Echo Studio

• Echo Input