Matter 1.3 Explained: EV Chargers, Kitchen Appliances, and More

The Smart Home Gets a Major Upgrade

The Matter smart home standard is rapidly evolving, and its 1.3 version, finalized by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in May 2024, represents a significant leap forward. Building on its promise of interoperability, this update extends support into crucial new areas of the home, including energy management, kitchen appliances, and home safety, making the vision of a truly unified smart home more tangible.

New Device Categories in Matter 1.3

The most significant changes in Matter 1.3 are the new types of devices that can now be certified. This expansion brings previously siloed smart products into the unified Matter ecosystem.

Energy Management Takes Center Stage

For the first time, Matter now includes support for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), more commonly known as EV chargers. This allows users with any Matter-compatible home hub (like those from Google, Apple, or Amazon) to:

• Start and stop charging sessions.
• Adjust charging power.
• Set schedules to charge during off-peak hours.

This standardization applies to AC chargers (Level 1 and Level 2), helping homeowners optimize charging without being locked into a specific brand's app. The update also introduces a broader Energy Reporting feature, allowing any device to provide real-time data on power consumption and production.

The Kitchen and Laundry Room Get Smarter

Matter 1.3 brings a host of major home appliances into the fold, including:

• Microwave ovens
• Ovens (conventional and built-in)
• Cooktops
• Range hoods (extractors)
• Laundry dryers

This integration allows for remote control and notifications. You can now receive an alert on your phone or smart display when the oven has preheated or the laundry cycle is complete, and in many cases, you can remotely start or stop a cycle.

Water and Safety Systems Integration

To help homeowners prevent damage and improve safety, Matter 1.3 adds several critical device types:

• Water Management: Leak detectors, freeze detectors, rain sensors, and controllable water shutoff valves are now supported. This enables powerful automations, such as a leak detector automatically triggering a valve to shut off the main water supply.
• Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms: These devices can send notifications to all your Matter controllers. The standard supports alarm sounds, battery status alerts, and self-testing notifications, providing peace of mind.

Key Feature Enhancements

Beyond new devices, Matter 1.3 improves the overall user experience with several under-the-hood enhancements.

More Capable Media and TVs

While previous versions supported basic TV controls, the 1.3 update adds richer media functionality. It enables push notifications to appear on screen (e.g., "Your doorbell is ringing") and introduces a standardized way for Matter apps to initiate casting content to a Matter-enabled TV or media player.

Faster, More Reliable Scenes and Automations

Two key improvements make automations feel more responsive:

• Scenes: This feature allows users to save and recall a group of device states with a single command, such as a "Movie Night" scene that dims multiple lights and adjusts the thermostat simultaneously.
• Command Batching: Controllers can now send multiple commands to different devices in a single, efficient message. This reduces the delay (latency) often seen in smart home actions, making the system feel faster and more reliable.

What This Means for Consumers

With the specification released in May 2024, devices certified for Matter 1.3 began appearing in late 2024 and are expected to become widely available throughout 2025. For consumers, this means greater choice and less complexity. When purchasing a new EV charger, oven, or smoke detector, looking for the Matter logo ensures it will work seamlessly with your existing smart home setup, regardless of the manufacturer. This update continues to break down the walled gardens of the past, paving the way for a more intelligent and interconnected home.