Matter 1.5 is official – and it supports cameras

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has officially released Matter 1.5, and it’s one of the biggest updates the smart home standard has seen so far, especially because it finally adds support for cameras. 

The new spec opens the door for a wide range of Matter-enabled video devices, along with improvements for window coverings, plant-care sensors, and next-generation energy management.

Cameras are easily the headline feature. Matter 1.5 now includes a unified camera specification, meaning manufacturers won’t need custom APIs or proprietary integrations to bring devices into major smart home ecosystems. Matter-compatible cameras will support live video and audio streaming through WebRTC, enabling two-way talk, local and remote access, and even multi-stream setups. 

The spec also includes pan-tilt-zoom controls, privacy zones, motion detection, and flexible storage options. Platform-specific clip playback and storage remain in the hands of device makers, and on-device audio/video analysis isn’t supported yet, but the foundation is in place for everything from doorbell cameras to outdoor floodlight cams.

The update also brings a cleaner, more unified approach to closures – the category covering window shades, blinds, awnings, gates, and garage doors. With Matter 1.5, devices can report clearer open and close states, and support a wider variety of motion types such as sliding, rotating, and multi-part configurations. The Alliance says users should expect more consistent control across different apps and ecosystems.

For plant lovers, Matter 1.5 introduces official support for soil sensors. Devices can report moisture and temperature levels and work alongside Matter-enabled irrigation systems or water valves to automate watering schedules.

Energy management gets another major boost. Utilities and grid operators can now provide real-time and forecasted pricing, tariff data, and carbon information directly to Matter devices. That lets devices estimate true energy costs and carbon impact with more accuracy, while better smart metering support improves consumption tracking at home.

Now that Matter 1.5 is live, manufacturers can start building new categories of products under the updated specification, and major platforms are free to integrate support on their end. With cameras finally in the mix, the Matter ecosystem is about to expand in a big way.