Matter 1.5 Is Here - Cameras, Energy and the Smart Home We Were Promised

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) released Matter 1.5 in November 2025, and it's the most significant update the standard has seen. The headline feature? Native camera support. But dig deeper, and the energy management and closure control additions might be even more impactful for day-to-day smart home life.

> Important note: The features described below are part of the Matter 1.5 specification. Actual device availability depends on manufacturers and will roll out throughout 2026.

What's New in Matter 1.5?

Feature	Status	Why It Matters
Cameras	New device type	Unified camera control across all platforms
Energy Management	Major expansion	Real-time tariff data, CO₂ intensity tracking
Closures	Redesigned	Modular control for blinds, gates, garage doors
Soil Sensors	New device type	Smart irrigation based on actual soil moisture

Cameras - The Missing Piece

Before Matter 1.5, cameras were the biggest gap in the ecosystem. Every manufacturer ran their own cloud service, their own app, their own protocols. Three camera brands meant three separate apps on your phone.

That era is ending.

Matter 1.5 uses WebRTC-based video streaming, which delivers:

Low-latency live view on your local network - no cloud round-trip required

Two-way audio - turning any Matter camera into an intercom

Secure remote access - end-to-end encrypted

Cross-platform control - Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant

When can you buy one? The first Matter-certified cameras are expected in H1 2026. Samsung SmartThings has supported Matter 1.5 cameras since December 2025.

Energy Management - Smart Tariff Handling

This is where Matter 1.5 gets genuinely exciting for anyone with solar panels or a home battery. The new Electrical Energy Tariff device type creates a standardised channel between your utility company and your smart devices.

Capability	What It Does
Real-time pricing	Utilities push live tariff data directly to your devices
CO₂ intensity	Devices can optimise based on grid carbon intensity
Forecasting	Upcoming tariff schedules shared ahead of time
Auto-scheduling	Devices shift consumption to cheapest or greenest periods

Practical example: Your solar inverter and home battery receive real-time electricity pricing via Matter 1.5. At night when rates are low, the battery charges from the grid. During peak solar hours, the system maximises self-consumption or feeds back to the grid when prices are highest.

Closures - Blinds, Gates and Garage Doors

Matter 1.5 introduces a modular cluster architecture for closure devices. One standard now covers:

Roller blinds and shades (up/down, tilt angle)

Curtains (open/close)

Gates and garage doors (open/close, partial positions)

Awnings (extend/retract)

Previously, every manufacturer - Somfy, IKEA, Aqara - used proprietary protocols. Matter 1.5 brings them all under one roof.

Soil Sensors - The Smart Garden Begins

An unexpected but welcome addition: soil sensors that measure moisture and temperature. Combined with Matter-compatible water valves, you get fully automated irrigation that waters when plants actually need it - not on a timer.

Should You Wait for Matter 1.5?

Situation	Our Recommendation
Building a new smart home	Choose Matter-compatible devices wherever possible
Expanding existing setup	Wait for Matter 1.5 certified devices (H1-H2 2026)
Have solar panels	The energy management features alone are worth it
Multi-brand household	Matter finally solves the interoperability problem