302 buying reviews

Matter device reviews

Find a product for your home, then compare what is good, what is frustrating and whether it is worth buying.

Showing 12 of 28 reviews

Apple HomeView

7-inch smart display, Apple home hub and Thread border router

HomeView is the Apple hub to buy when the household wants a shared control panel: it puts lights, locks and cameras on a 7-inch screen that anyone in the room can use, with the home hub and Thread radio built in.

Thread$299

No brand hub or Thread router required

Apple TV 4K (4th generation)

4K media streamer, Apple home hub and Thread border router

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is the Apple home hub to buy when the living-room TV also needs a new streamer: every unit has Thread and Gigabit Ethernet, and built-in microphones let Siri run lights and scenes hands-free.

Thread$299

No brand hub or Thread router required

Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus Desktop

Desktop touchscreen, Zigbee hub, and Matter bridge

A useful luxury for an Aqara household that wants shared controls on a table or counter.

Matter bridge€299.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

White SONOFF Bridge Max hub shown at an angle with its raised center panel and model mark

SONOFF Bridge Max Bridge-M

Matter bridge and Zigbee gateway

Bridge Max is most convincing as a $59.90 upgrade for an existing ZBBridge Pro collection that needs Matter sharing and Ethernet.

Matter bridge$59.90

No brand hub or Thread router required

Homey Pro (2026)

Matter Hub and Thread Border Router

The Homey to buy new when your home already has Z-Wave, Bluetooth or infrared devices, or more brands than the Pro mini's memory comfortably serves.

Thread$449

No brand hub or Thread router required

Aqara Hub M200

Matter Controller, Thread Border Router, and Aqara Hub

The better-value Aqara hub for a modest installation.

Matter bridgeFrom $69.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2

USB Thread radio for a Home Assistant border router

A sensible radio upgrade when you already run Home Assistant and need a new Zigbee or Thread network.

Thread border routerFrom $48.95

Needs a brand hub

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025)

8.7-inch Alexa smart display, Matter controller and Thread border router

A good Alexa kitchen display when you want a bigger screen, better sound and a full smart-home hub in one box, ideally bought on sale.

ThreadFrom $149.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2

SmartThings Matter Controller and Thread Border Router

A sensible $119.99 foundation for a new SmartThings home using Matter, Thread and Zigbee.

Thread$119.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

Philips Hue Bridge Pro

High-capacity Hue lighting hub with MotionAware

Bridge Pro earns its price when a large Hue installation is running out of room, or when MotionAware and flexible placement solve a specific problem.

Matter bridge$139.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

SwitchBot Hub 3

Room control panel with a dial, infrared remote and Matter bridge

The SwitchBot hub to choose when a room needs a usable dial and shortcuts, or an older hub has run out of Matter capacity.

Matter bridge$119.99

No brand hub or Thread router required

Homey Pro mini

Matter Hub and Thread Border Router

The better-value Homey for a modest collection of apps when Ethernet placement works.

ThreadFrom $249

No brand hub or Thread router required