I gave Matter two years to work, then ripped out every Thread node for Zigbee
The author gave Matter two years to deliver on its promise of a unified smart home standard but found it introduced more complexity than it solved. Instead of simplifying connectivity, Matter's reliance on multiple Thread border routers created fragmented networks. As a result, the author removed all Thread nodes and returned to using Zigbee for its reliability, battery efficiency, and local autonomy.
- ▪Matter was intended to unify smart home devices under one standard to eliminate fragmentation.
- ▪The author found that Matter created fragmented Thread partitions due to multiple border routers from different brands.
- ▪Matter 1.4 and 1.5 attempted to fix early issues but did not resolve stability concerns for power users.
- ▪Zigbee is preferred by the author for its reliability, long battery life, and local operation without cloud dependence.
- ▪The author concluded that Matter failed to meet expectations and reverted entirely to Zigbee devices.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at XDA.