First Matter tests: there is still a long way to go…

The first Matter devices are finally arriving on the market. This new home automation standard, which aims to be universal, promises to be revolutionary, as it promises to be able to connect all the devices in your smart home, regardless of the protocol used or the manufacturer in question. I had the chance to test a Matter-compatible Eve Energy smart plug. But as we'll see, there's still a long way to go between promise and reality… I introduced you to Matter in a dedicated article, which I invite you to consult for more details. The main thing to remember is that this new home automation standard aims to make all connected devices communicate with each other, without having to worry about the protocol. Indeed, until now, it was sometimes necessary to choose a home automation protocol (Zwave, ZigBee, Knx, IOHomecontrol, etc.) and stick to it, otherwise the devices were not compatible with each other. And to control them, it was necessary to limit oneself to a single controller, most devices could only be paired with a single Hub. The same goes for voice assistants: if a device was controlled with Apple's Siri, for example, there was little chance that it could also be controlled with a Google assistant. Matter is revolutionizing all of this, thanks in particular to the collaboration of major players, such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, etc. This is a major first, as “competitors” have finally joined forces to design a home automation standard that works for everyone. Ultimately, this makes it easier for the end user, who no longer has to worry about whether their new devices are compatible with each other. They just need to display the Matter logo to be sure. At least, that's the promise on paper, anyway. I had the chance to test the new Eve Energy smart plug, which is Matter-compatible, with the new Apple HomePod. I also took the opportunity to test it with Google and Alexa.

Introducing the Eve Matter smart plug Eve is a manufacturer best known for its Apple-compatible products and its Homekit home automation system. These are very attractive and reliable products, but they were previously reserved for Apple users. Matter compatibility will therefore allow the manufacturer to invade other markets. Aside from the new “Matter” logo, the rest of the packaging looks very similar to what we already knew: This Eve Energy smart plug uses the Thread protocol, which is one of the protocols supported by the Matter standard. You'll therefore, of course, need a compatible router.This is a good thing, since I received two Apple HomePods for testing, which are Thread/Matter routers :)

Inside, you'll simply find the Eve Energy plug, along with a short guide and its QR code for pairing:

This is a Shuko-format plug, compatible with most French outlets:

Moreover, its male end complies with the French standard:

On one of its corners, it has an LED to indicate its status. There's also a small button to locally control the plug, if necessary, by switching it On/Off. It's not the most compact plug we've seen, as you can see here with a ZigBee Us plug next to it:

But it's still compact, measuring 56mm on each side and 79mm deep.

For those in the know, this is an exact replica of the old model. In fact, the old model can be updated to become Matter compatible (note: this is a permanent procedure!).

Let's get straight to the point: Matter compatibility!

Using the Eve Matter Plug

I was very excited to test this first Matter-compatible product! I plugged in my Google and Amazon assistants, the new Apple HomePods, the Apple TV 4K, etc., and I checked that everything was up to date. On iOS, for example, you have to make sure your iPhone or iPad is running iOS 16.3. Once everything was in order, I plugged the Eve plug into an electrical outlet. And there… NOTHING!

Well, almost nothing. Only my Samsung smartphone immediately displayed a message warning me that a new outlet had been detected and that it offered to add it to SmartThings. Why not! But no, because ultimately, you need a SmartThings-compatible Matter Hub to communicate with this outlet. Too bad, though, since SmartThings isn't what I planned to test, as this system is still very little used in France :p On my Samsung Galaxy S22, the outlet was immediately detected. On the other hand, there was no response from Apple, Amazon, or Google devices…

Eve Matter Outlet and Apple Homekit

To use the Eve Energy Matter outlet with Homekit, you obviously need a Matter-compatible router. The new Homepods and the latest Apple TV are among these. They all need to be up-to-date and connected, of course.

From there, simply go to the “Home” app and ask to add a new device. Then scan the QR code on the plug (and also on its user manual) with your iPhone:

The plug is recognized immediately.

Add it, give it a name, place it in the desired room: and that's it!

Easier said than done, though, because I still had to try three times, and the addition failed. Maybe a range issue? I moved the plug closer to the HomePod, and the addition was easier in any case.

From there, you can control the plug from Apple's “Home” app, but also by voice using Siri.

Ultimately, few changes than what we already knew with Homekit, which already required the scanning of a QRCode to add a product. For now, users of connected products under Apple will not be disoriented!

Eve Matter and Amazon Echo socket

Once the Eve socket was added on Apple, I tried adding it on the Amazon Echo. In the Amazon Alexa smartphone application, you ask to add a device. There we clearly see that the Eve socket is detected and available for addition; That’s a good sign!

The assistant then invites us to scan the QRCode of the socket.

After a few moments, the assistant asks me if this socket might not already be paired with another assistant. Probably the addition takes too long. Yes yes, in fact, it is already paired on Apple! Well no worries, the wizard clearly explains to us that we need to generate a new “configuration code”:

Back in the Apple Home application, you actually have to go to the socket settings, and click on the “Activate Pairing mode” button. There the Home app provides us with a new configuration code:

Simply enter this code manually in the Alexa application. But finally, after many seconds, tragedy struck:

I had high hopes, with Alexa guiding me by the hand to add the plug, but ultimately, there was a problem. I tried resetting the plug and adding it first on the Amazon Assistant, but without success.

After checking my hardware, I have a 1st generation Echo Show (2019), a 4th generation Echo (which supports ZigBee), and a 5th generation Echo Dot. From what I could find, all three are Matter compatible, which is good news (Amazon doesn't currently highlight this compatibility on its product pages, so it's hard to know…). Amazon announced Matter compatibility with 17 of its devices at the end of December:

Echo Dot (fifth gen)

Echo Dot (fifth gen) with Clock

Echo (fourth gen)

Echo Dot (third gen, 2018 release)

Echo Studio

Echo Show 8 (second gen, 2021 release)

Echo Show 10 (third gen)

Echo Show 5 (second gen, 2021 release)

Echo Dot (third gen) with Clock

Echo Dot (fourth gen) with Clock

• Echo Show 5
• Echo (v3)
• Echo Dot (fourth gen)
• Echo Input
• Echo Flex
• Echo Plus (v2)
• Echo Show 8
• Please note: this Matter update currently only supports Matter Wi-Fi devices, not Thread. And this Eve Energy plug uses Thread :/ The December update is only the first phase, with Thread support expected soon. It's easier to understand why the addition never worked for me. We'll have to wait a little longer…
• Eve Matter Plug and Google Assistant
• I have a range of Google Assistants at home, with voice control having been shifted to this system a few years ago, as it was the most widely compatible with the devices I had.
• Unfortunately, this is the system that has produced the worst results so far. If I ask to add a new device via the Google Home app, under “New Device,” it clearly shows that it offers to add Matter-compatible devices. But it doesn't detect anything. At best, it then asks me the type of device I want to add, then loops, never finding anything.
• Yet Google has also released a Matter update to 8 of its assistants:
• Google Home
• Google Home Mini
• Nest Mini
• Nest Audio
• Nest Hub (1st and 2nd generation)

Nest Hub Max Nest WiFi ProI have a 1st generation Nest Hub, a Nest Hub Max, and several Google Home Minis. All supposedly compatible, if I believe this list. But unfortunately, it's not possible to add this Eve plug yet, and no information on how or why :/

Conclusion

I've been waiting to test Matter since its announcement, this new standard is so promising. Universality in home automation is something we've been waiting for for 40 years to finally democratize the smart home. On paper, Matter is a dream, with its device interoperability, local operation, secure communication, and more. Unfortunately, as we can see so far, there's still a long way to go before everything is as idyllic as advertised.

So far, there's no response from my Google Assistants, which are supposed to be compatible. On the Amazon side, a small update is missing to support Thread. Because, ultimately, even though Matter promises universal support regardless of the protocols used, this isn't yet the case, since there's a distinction between Wi-Fi and Thread devices. For Samsung, you need a Matter Hub, like the one presented at CES.

. That's understandable. Ultimately, this Eve plug only works well with the Apple ecosystem! It's not very difficult, really, since Eve products were initially 100% dedicated to Apple :/

• Well, by digging deeper, contacting manufacturers, etc., solutions may be available to make all this wonderful world communicate. But I deliberately put myself in the shoes of an average user, who expects everything to work a few minutes after plugging in their Matter-compatible plug. That, after all, is the promise of this new standard: to make installation and use easier. While a few minutes should be enough to make this plug communicate with the various assistants, I spent a full day testing it in every direction, with more than mixed results. Clearly, the promise hasn't been kept yet!
• Anyway, we'll talk about it again in a few weeks/months, until everyone is actually ready for Matter, because for the moment it's still too early. But I remain optimistic about this new standard, which for me is the revolution we were waiting for in home automation. Let's hope it doesn't remain a sweet dream :p