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Matter Alpha’s first-month account describes replacing most of an older Zigbee setup with Matter devices for lighting, controls and other smart-home functions. The report says the system is usable across several platforms, but Matter-exposed wall switches lack features the author relied on, and the longer-term performance of the all-Matter setup is not yet established.
Matter Alpha has published an account of its first month running a new apartment largely on Matter smart-home devices, describing a setup spanning lighting, wall controls and multiple control platforms. The report says the move reduced reliance on older Zigbee equipment, but also found that some wall-switch features were unavailable through Matter, leaving questions about whether the standard can match the author’s previous setup in everyday use.
The author began with an existing smart-home system and reused most of its network credentials, powering up the main controllers and removing many old device entries. With fewer Zigbee devices in use, the report says, some standalone bridges—including Philips Hue and SONOFF hardware—could be retired. The author instead used software options such as eWeLink Cube and Homey Self-Hosted Server to bring certain proprietary local-network devices into the wider setup.
Home Assistant was selected as the primary controller for adding Matter devices. The author then shared devices that needed manual phone control with Apple Home, while Home Assistant Link was used to connect Google Home and Amazon Alexa. That arrangement is the report author’s chosen configuration, not a claim that every Matter household needs the same controllers or services.
Lighting and wall controls came first. The author says about 10 Aqara Thread switches and dimmers were installed to operate fans, lights and ceiling fixtures, alongside smart ceiling lights, pendant lights, strips and bulbs from several brands. The report says those switches were no better than the author’s former Zigbee models and lacked decoupled relay mode; dimmer settings were also limited when exposed through Matter. The author described the switches as a temporary choice while considering alternatives for wall boxes without neutral wires.
Matter’s Switch Feature Gap
The account points to a distinction that matters to people choosing devices for a cross-brand smart home: basic interoperability does not necessarily include every manufacturer feature. A switch may join a Matter setup and operate lights while still losing options available through another protocol or the manufacturer’s own ecosystem.
For readers planning a retrofit, this could affect whether a device suits a particular wiring arrangement or automation. The report’s experience suggests checking the exact features exposed to the intended controller before replacing existing switches. It does not establish how common these limitations are across Matter products, or whether later software updates will address them.
The account also offers a practical example of consolidating control. Retiring hubs can reduce physical equipment and simplify maintenance, as the author reports, but the new arrangement still relies on several controllers and software integrations. The trade-off is not simply fewer devices: users may also need to decide which platform manages setup and which features are available in each one.
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From Zigbee to Matter
The author moved into a larger apartment and used the opportunity to rebuild a smart-home system rather than carry the previous mix of Zigbee switches, HomeKit fixtures and Matter lamps forward unchanged. The stated goal was to replace nearly all older Zigbee devices with Matter products across several categories and see how that approach held up in daily use.
The report describes a mixed hardware and software arrangement rather than a single-brand system. Some bridges were no longer needed because fewer Zigbee devices remained, while Home Assistant served as the starting point for Matter device setup. The author also retained platform links for Apple, Google and Amazon services. That background helps explain why the account is about both device compatibility and the practical work of organizing controls across ecosystems.
The supplied report material includes detail about the initial hub and lighting setup, but does not provide complete results for every category named in its introduction, including climate, sensors and power monitoring. Its observations should be read as an individual first-month experience, not a controlled comparison of Matter against Zigbee.
““They are no better than their Zigbee counterparts over Matter right now.””
— Matter Alpha report author
Limits of the First Month
The report covers one household over its first month; it does not provide long-term reliability data, a measured comparison of network performance, or a full account of how every device category performed. The supplied material also does not specify the precise software versions, firmware conditions or controller settings behind the switch limitations.
It is unclear whether the missing switch options stem from Matter’s current feature support, device firmware, controller interfaces, or a combination of factors. The report describes what its author could access through Matter, but does not establish that every Aqara switch or Matter controller behaves the same way. It also gives no confirmed timeline for updates or for the author’s selection of replacement switches.
Further Testing and Switch Choices
The author says they are looking for alternatives to the neutral-free wall switches while using the installed Aqara models to keep the apartment operating. The account does not name a replacement or announce a date for a follow-up.
Further reporting from the same setup could clarify whether the author expands the Matter installation across climate, sensors and power monitoring, and whether the current controls remain in place after extended daily use. For now, the report’s clearest finding is limited: the author’s first-month system brought multiple device brands under a common setup, but did not reproduce every feature they had with Zigbee switches.
Key Questions
What did Matter Alpha set up during the first month?
The report describes a new apartment system centered on Matter devices, starting with lighting and wall controls. It also outlines Home Assistant as the primary controller, with connections to Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
Did the author replace every Zigbee device?
No. The report says the author replaced nearly all older Zigbee gear and retired some standalone bridges, but it does not say every Zigbee device was removed.
What did not work as expected?
The author said the Aqara switches and dimmers lacked decoupled relay mode through the Matter setup, and described their dimmer configuration options as very limited. These are observations from that installation, not a finding about all Matter switches.
Which controller did the author use for Matter devices?
The author used Home Assistant as the primary controller for adding Matter devices, then shared selected devices with Apple Home and linked Google Home and Alexa through Home Assistant Link.
Does the report prove an all-Matter home is more reliable?
No. It is a first-person account of one home’s first month and does not present a controlled reliability comparison or long-term performance measurements.
Source: matteralpha.com
