From basic automated bulbs to full-home intelligence, the evolution of residential tech has been rapid

Early adopters faced a frustrating reality: devices from different brands rarely worked together

If you bought a smart bulb from one company, you couldn’t control it with a smart dimmer installation guide speaker from another

The industry’s chaos stemmed from dozens of proprietary wireless standards, each with incompatible specs and locked ecosystems

These protocols became foundational thanks to their energy efficiency and device-to-device signal relaying

Zigbee in particular became popular because it was open and supported by many manufacturers

Despite its strengths, Zigbee demanded a dedicated bridge, and brand-to-brand communication remained unreliable

With the rise of mobile as the primary interface, consumers demanded unified, effortless control

The lack of a universal standard meant that consumers had to choose ecosystems—Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Nest—and stick with devices that worked within them

These closed systems stifled innovation and angered users who craved flexibility

The future of smart homes depended on interoperability—or it wouldn’t survive

Matter is the industry’s bold answer to decades of fragmentation, backed by the world’s biggest tech giants

This eliminates the need for extra hubs and lowers the barrier to entry for everyday users

A Philips bulb works with an Eero router. An IKEA switch speaks to an Apple HomePod. No exceptions.

This means you can buy a light bulb from one company and control it through an app from another without worrying about compatibility

Matter doesn’t erase Zigbee; it elevates it

Many current Zigbee devices can be upgraded to work with Matter through firmware updates or bridge devices

Your lights, sensors, and switches can evolve alongside the protocol—no costly replacements needed

Pick the smart bulb that dims beautifully—not the one tied to your Alexa device

This transition mirrors the industry-wide movement toward openness, standards, and user empowerment

It’s no longer enough for a device to be smart—it must be connected in a way that’s simple, reliable, and universal

Matter turns the promise of the smart home into reality: effortless control, frictionless integration, and true freedom of choice