Matter, the platform that aims to simplify smart homes, hasn't been all that simple so far. You need Matter-certified smart home hubs and devices, and even then, the setup could be harder than you expect. Now, most of those issues could be solved with the release of Thread 1.4 (and Matter 1.4).
Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol used in Matter, and SmartThings is compatible with Matter.
Thread 1.4 brings four significant improvements
After being announced at CES 2024, the Thread Group released the Thread 1.4 specification last week. Companies that make smart home devices, hubs, and routers can now get their products certified for Thread 1.4. It aims to solve problems that early adopters have been facing:
- It improves Thread border router interoperability.
- It also includes Ethernet and Wi-Fi to improve connectivity.
- Improves troubleshooting.
1. Improved Thread border router interoperability
Currently, Thread doesn't offer a simple way for Thread devices and routers to join an existing network. Some companies have worked together to implement custom ways to get their devices and border routers to work together, but others haven't. So, some Thread border router may create their own network instead of joining an existing one.
Thread 1.4 mandates how Thread devices can connect to an existing network. So, in the future, when you add a new Thread border router, it should work with your existing Thread network regardless of its brand.
Credentials Sharing is a new feature with Thread 1.4 that should make it easier for devices to connect to your Thread network. For example, you can connect a Thread smart sensor using the SmartThings app via a Google Nest Hub. Earlier, that sensor would insist on using an Echo device if you are setting it up using the Alexa app.
There is still no clear way to merge existing Thread networks in your home. So, if you want to create a larger network out of your existing devices, you need to factory reset all of them and start the setup process from scratch.
2. Mandatory internet connectivity via Ethernet or Wi-Fi
Believe it or not, Thread certification doesn't mean your border router can connect to the internet. Internet connectivity isn't mandatory to get the Thread certification for border routers. With Thread 1.4, border routers must have internet connectivity via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
This makes connecting to devices remotely easier. However, if you don't want your smart home devices to be connected directly to the internet, you can turn them off.
3. Better troubleshooting
When something goes wrong with your Thread smart home device or border router, you may be left scratching your head about the actual issue. With Thread 1.4, things will get easier to fix, as it will be easier to see your Thread network configuration and the status of your smart home devices.
Device manufacturers will now have tools to see what went wrong with a particular device or router so their app can better understand the status of the device and the network. So, when you open your smart home app, it can offer you a better understanding of the issue and how to fix it.
Samsung's smart TVs, like the one showcased in our video below, can act as a SmartThings Hub to control your smart home devices.
With all these improvements, Thread (and Matter) should now be easier to work with. You can do as you please, whether you want to use the Alexa smart home app or prefer a Google Nest Hub as your Matter hub. Internet connectivity and remote access should also improve with Thread 1.4. And if something goes wrong, your smart home app should be able to tell you the status of your Thread network, Thread-certified hub/router, and the smart device itself.
All these improvements should come to Samsung's SmartThings platforms, but Samsung has only added Matter 1.2 to its smart home device platform. We may not see Matter 1.4 integration into SmartThings before mid-2024. Other smart home platform makers, Amazon, Apple, and Google, have also been slow in rolling out new Matter and Thread standards.
