Explainer

Matter 1.5, explained

Matter 1.5 is a CSA specification release (November 2025): cameras, a unified closures model, soil sensors, and more energy-management clusters. A controller being 1.5-certified is not the same as a Matter camera on the shelf.

What 1.5 added

The Connectivity Standards Alliance’s 1.5 announcement is the primary source for the device categories. Cameras: interoperable Matter cameras without a custom per-ecosystem API, including live AV (WebRTC in the spec work) and event-triggered clip transport. Closures: a modular cluster model for shades, drapes, awnings, gates, garage doors — sliding, rotating, opening, single or dual panel. Soil sensors: moisture, optional temperature, meant to pair with Matter valves and irrigation. Energy management is extended from earlier Matter energy work, not invented in a blog post.

What it is not

1.5 is not a guarantee that your current hub, phone OS, or Home Assistant build exposes every new cluster. Homey’s CSA 1.5 controller cert (Pro, mini, Self-Hosted Server) is a data point that at least one multi-radio platform has passed 1.5 controller tests. It does not certify a camera, a shade, or a soil probe.

Why it is in this brief

The 15 Aug 2026 edition carries Homey’s cert and the Home Assistant 2026.8.2 Matter bridge patch. The spec is the evergreen underneath both. Thread still needs a border router on the network; Homey Pro/mini include one, Homey Self-Hosted Server does not.

Primary sources: CSA Matter 1.5 announcement; Homey 1.5 cert; CSA Homey listing.