Matter 2.1 Update Adds Support for Nine New Appliance Types Including Refrigerators and Robot Vacuums

New Matter version enables smart devices to relay more information like fridge temperature, laundry status, and air quality, and is expected to facilitate home automation through smart device interactions.

The Matter 2.1 update adds support for nine new types of home appliances including refrigerators, robot vacuums, dishwashers, laundry washers, air purifiers, air-quality sensors, fans, stand-alone room air conditioners, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the organization behind Matter, plans to launch two updates per year, with the next update expected to add even more device types and functionalities.
The new appliance types supported in Matter 2.1 can relay more detailed information. For instance, refrigerators can relay temperature control and monitoring, while dishwashers can send progress notifications and alarm notifications for operational errors.
The update builds upon the original purpose of Matter, which is to ensure smart devices, like video doorbells, locks, and light bulbs, can work uniformly across any smart home platforms such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
New Matter-enabled products integrating the 2.1 update specifications are expected to hit the market in 2024. These devices are predicted to automate home operations and allow for more device interaction to improve overall home management.