Matter 1.5 and Smart Home Cameras 2026 — What It Means for You

What Matter 1.5 Added (November 2025)

The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.5 in November 2025 with three significant additions:

• Security cameras: Indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, video doorbells, and baby monitors. Supports any resolution (720p to 4K), Wi-Fi, PoE, and Ethernet cameras, plus live streaming, two-way audio, motion detection, event history, and pan-tilt-zoom.
• Enhanced closures: Better support for blinds, awnings, and garage doors with more granular control.
• Improved energy management: More robust energy reporting for compatible devices.

Which Platforms Support Matter Cameras?

SmartThings moved fastest — it announced full Matter 1.5 support within weeks of the spec's release. The other major ecosystems have historically been slower with Matter versions (some platforms still lag on Matter 1.2-1.4 features), so check your specific platform before buying a Matter camera expecting full integration.

Matter Cameras Available in 2026

• Aqara Camera Hub G350: Aqara's first Matter-certified camera, also acts as a Matter controller. Shown at CES 2026.
• Eve: Bringing Matter cameras to market in partnership with SmartThings, early 2026.
• Ulticam IQ V2 (Xthings): One of the first models supporting Matter 1.5 specifications.

Several manufacturers have also promised Matter support via firmware updates for existing camera models — check whether your current camera will get a Matter update before buying new.

Should You Wait for Matter Cameras?

For most people: no, don't wait. Here's the honest assessment:

• If you need a camera now: Buy a proven camera (Arlo Pro 4, Wyze, Ring) today. They work well. Matter camera support is still maturing across platforms in 2026.
• If you're deeply multi-platform: Matter cameras genuinely help if you run, say, SmartThings + Apple Home and want one camera visible in both. This is the real use case.
• If you want maximum future-proofing: A Matter camera from Aqara or Eve is reasonable, but accept that advanced features (AI detection, cloud storage) will still route through the manufacturer app.

What This Means for the Smart Home in 2026

Matter 1.5 completes the standard's coverage of the major device categories. The smart home interoperability promise — buy any device, use it with any platform — is now theoretically whole-home. The remaining friction is implementation: ecosystems adopt Matter versions at different speeds, and manufacturers often support only a subset of each version's features. The standard is sound; the rollout is uneven.

For buyers, the practical advice hasn't fundamentally changed: pick your primary ecosystem, buy devices that work well with it, and treat Matter as a bonus that adds flexibility rather than the primary buying criterion.

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