Matter 1.4: What the Latest Smart Home Standard Update Actually Changes
Matter 1.4 adds support for EV chargers, solar panels, water management, and enhanced media devices. Here is what matters for your setup.
Matter was supposed to unify the smart home. The first release in late 2022 was promising but limited — lights, plugs, locks, thermostats, and not much else. Each subsequent update has expanded the device roster. Matter 1.4, released in early 2026, is the most ambitious expansion yet.
New Device Categories
Energy Management
This is the headline addition. Matter 1.4 introduces device types for solar inverters, battery storage systems, EV chargers, and smart panels. For the first time, your solar system, home battery, EV charger, and smart thermostat can coordinate through a single open protocol instead of proprietary apps.
The practical impact: your home can automatically shift heavy loads (EV charging, water heating) to periods of peak solar production without needing a proprietary energy management system from a single vendor.
Water Management
Smart water valves, leak sensors, and flow meters now have standardized Matter device types. Previously, water leak detection systems from Flo, Moen, and others were siloed in their own apps. Under Matter 1.4, a Flo leak sensor can trigger a Moen smart valve to shut off water — even though they are from different manufacturers.
Enhanced Media
Media devices gain richer controls including content browsing, media input selection, and playback queuing. TV manufacturers can now expose their full input switching and app launching capabilities through Matter rather than relying on proprietary integrations.
What Did Not Make the Cut
Cameras and doorbells are still absent from Matter. The Connectivity Standards Alliance has acknowledged this is the most-requested category, but video streaming introduces bandwidth and security complexities that the working group is still resolving. Expect camera support in Matter 1.5 or 2.0.
Robot vacuums also remain outside the specification, despite widespread consumer demand.
Should You Wait or Buy Now
If you already own Matter-compatible devices, they will continue working — Matter is backward compatible. Existing hubs will support 1.4 device types through software updates. If you are specifically shopping for an EV charger or whole-home water shutoff, it may be worth waiting a few months for Matter 1.4 certified products to hit the market. For everything else — lights, locks, sensors, thermostats — buy now. These categories have been stable since Matter 1.0.