Smart home manufacturer Aqara has announced the beta rollout of its promised Matter update for its M2 smart home hub.
The update has been highly anticipated, as Matter is set to become a unifying smart home standard, bringing together devices from various manufacturers and platforms.
The update is still in beta and has been rolled out gradually, starting with devices manufactured in 2022. It’s important to note that the manufacturer is not rolling out the new software on all generations of the control center simultaneously. However, this is just the beginning of the rollout, and it is expected that the software update will soon be available on all M2 smart home hubs.. In order to take advantage of the new standard, the M2 must have at least software version 4.0.0 installed.
However, it’s important to note that the Matter update does come with some limitations. For instance, Amazon and SmartThings don’t yet support the “Bridge” device type. Consequently, at the moment, the M2 hub is only compatible with Apple Home and Google Home. To link the hub with Google Home, users must have a second-generation Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max installed on the same network. Similarly, Apple Home necessitates the installation and online connectivity of a HomePod or Apple TV 4K on the same network.
Overall, the Matter update for Aqara’s M2 smart home hub is a significant development for the smart home industry. By supporting Matter, Aqara is helping to create a more unified smart home ecosystem, making it easier for users to connect and control their devices. However, it is important to note the limitations and potential issues, which are expected to be resolved over time.