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Matter Alpha’s first-month account describes replacing most of an apartment’s older Zigbee devices with Matter gear for lighting, controls and other smart-home functions. The report says the setup worked for getting the home running, but Matter versions of some switches lacked features available in their previous Zigbee counterparts.
Matter Alpha has reported on its first month setting up a new apartment with devices built around Matter, replacing most of its older Zigbee equipment across lighting, switches and other smart-home functions. The account describes a system that was usable in daily life, but also records missing controls on some Matter-connected switches, illustrating that support for a shared standard does not guarantee feature parity across platforms.
The writer began with existing smart-home equipment and network credentials, then cleared out many old device entries and powered the main controllers back on. Because the new setup used less Zigbee, the report says some standalone bridges, including Philips Hue and SONOFF hardware, could be retired. For connecting certain proprietary local-network devices, the writer turned to software options including eWeLink Cube and Homey Self-Hosted Server.
Home Assistant became the primary controller for adding Matter devices. The writer shared selected devices with Apple Home for phone control and used Home Assistant Link, identified in the report as formerly Home Assistant Cloud, to connect with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. The account also lists Home Assistant Green and Apple TV hardware among the home’s controllers; it does not provide a complete inventory of every active hub or explain the role of each device.
Lighting and wall controls came first. The writer installed about 10 Aqara Thread switches and dimmers to operate fans, lights and ceiling fixtures, alongside ceiling lights, pendant fixtures, smart bulbs and a light strip from several brands. The report says the selected switches could work with neutral-free wiring, easing installation in the existing wall boxes, but does not describe the wiring or provide installation guidance.
Matter’s Feature Gaps at Home
The report offers a practical view of the difference between device compatibility and feature completeness. Matter can make it easier to connect products from different manufacturers to a common smart-home system, but the writer found that some controls were not available through Matter in the way they had been with Zigbee.
For people choosing devices, that distinction can affect everyday use: a switch may appear in a chosen platform and operate a light, while still lacking a setting needed for a particular automation. The report is one user’s experience, not a controlled comparison or a measure of how all Matter products perform. Still, it points to a relevant purchasing question: whether the Matter implementation exposes the specific functions a household needs.
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From Zigbee to Matter Devices
The writer says the move to a larger apartment created an opportunity to rebuild a setup that had combined Zigbee switches, HomeKit fixtures and some Matter lamps. Over the first month, the aim was to replace nearly all older Zigbee gear, rather than retain the previous mix of protocols.
The account describes Matter as the basis for linking equipment across major smart-home platforms, while also relying on controller software and bridges for particular devices and services. It reports retiring some hardware as Zigbee use fell, but does not establish that every former Zigbee or Z-Wave device was removed. The source also includes product descriptions and affiliate-link disclosure, so its device listings should be read as the author’s reported setup, not an independent product test.
“They are no better than their Zigbee counterparts over Matter right now.”
— Matter Alpha report author
Limits of the First-Month Account
The report does not give a full breakdown of device reliability, connection failures, response times, costs or energy use. It also does not say whether the cited switch limitations stem from the devices, Matter itself, or how features are exposed in particular platforms. The author’s experience cannot establish how the same products perform in other homes or software versions.
The supplied account ends partway through its discussion of lighting products. It provides no findings on the other areas named in its introduction, such as climate, sensors and power monitoring, and does not describe a final system-wide assessment. The date of publication is not included in the supplied source text.
Alternatives and Further Testing
The writer says they are looking into other neutral-free wall switch options, but the report does not name a replacement or give a timetable for changing the installed switches. The system is described as an ongoing setup rather than a completed evaluation.
Further reporting would be needed to establish whether software or firmware changes address the missing switch functions, and whether the same gaps appear across other Matter controllers. The source gives no announced follow-up date, so the next confirmed step is the author’s stated search for alternatives and continued use of the current setup.
Key Questions
What did Matter Alpha set up during the first month?
The report describes lighting and wall controls, including ceiling lights, smart bulbs, a light strip and about 10 Aqara Thread switches and dimmers. It also outlines a controller setup using Home Assistant and links to Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
What problem did the report find with the switches?
The author said the Matter-connected switches lacked a decoupled relay mode for smart-bulb automations and offered few dimmer configuration options through Matter. The report does not determine whether the limitation is specific to the products, software or platform.
Did the writer remove every Zigbee device?
No. The account says the writer replaced nearly all older Zigbee gear and retired some bridges as Zigbee use declined. It does not say that every Zigbee device was removed.
Which system was used as the primary controller?
The writer says new Matter devices were added through Home Assistant first. Selected devices were then shared with Apple Home, while Home Assistant Link was used for Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
What happens next with the setup?
The author says they are looking into alternative neutral-free wall switches. The report gives no replacement choice, schedule or confirmed software update that would address the missing features.
Source: matteralpha.com
