802.15.4Matter, Thread & Zigbee
A smart home that speaks one language.
Matter is the common smart-home standard supported by Apple, Google and Amazon. Underneath, Thread and Zigbee link devices into a mesh network, in which every powered device relays data for its neighbours.
In short
Thread, Zigbee and where Matter fits
Thread and Zigbee run on the same radio standard - IEEE 802.15.4 at 2.4 GHz, at 250 kbit/s. Devices form a mesh network: powered ones relay packets, while battery ones sleep and wake only when they have something to say.
Zigbee is a mature standard with thousands of devices on the market, but it needs a hub. Thread is an IP network: every device has an IPv6 address, and border routers - often built into speakers and TV boxes - connect it to the home network.
Matter is the application layer on top of Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet: it defines what a bulb, a switch or a sensor looks like, so it works with any platform. To carry the Matter logo, a device is certified through the Connectivity Standards Alliance.
When
When Matter is the right choice
Choose Matter, Thread or Zigbee when
- The device is for a home or office with a smart system
- It has to work with Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa
- There are many devices in one building
- Some of the devices run on batteries
It's not for you if
- You need kilometres of range - see LoRaWAN
- You need video - see Wi-Fi
- The setting is industrial rather than a home or an office
| Technology | Network | Hub | Matter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thread | Mesh, IPv6 | Border router | Yes |
| Zigbee | Mesh | Zigbee hub | Through a bridge |
| Wi-Fi | Star | Router | Yes |
| Bluetooth LE | Star or mesh | Phone or gateway | For commissioning |
What we build
Devices for the smart home
Examples of devices we design - not a client list.
01
Sensors
Door, motion, temperature and leak - on batteries, in a mesh network.
02
Lighting and equipment
Switches, sockets and relays that work with the platform app you already use.
03
Bridges to older systems
Connecting existing Zigbee or wired systems to Matter.
Parts
Chips for 802.15.4
Matter certification is its own stage with a cost and a timeline - we plan it from the start, not at the end.
- ESP32-H2 / ESP32-C6
- IEEE 802.15.4 for Thread and Zigbee
- Nordic nRF52840
- Thread, Zigbee and Bluetooth LE
- Silicon Labs EFR32
- Widely used in Zigbee devices
Questions about Matter
Will the device work with Apple Home and Google Home?
If it is Matter-certified, yes - with every platform that supports Matter. Certification goes through the Connectivity Standards Alliance, and we plan it from the start of the project.
Thread or Zigbee?
For a new product with Matter, most often Thread. Zigbee is a sensible choice when the device has to work with an existing Zigbee system.
Is a hub needed?
For Thread, a border router, which is often already in the home: a speaker or a TV box. For Zigbee, a Zigbee hub.
How many devices can the network have?
Dozens to hundreds, depending on the routers and the traffic. A mesh network gets more reliable with every powered device in it.