Samsung Electronics has announced an update to its SmartThings platform that adds support for Matter 1.5, the latest version of the cross-brand smart home standard. The update makes SmartThings one of the first major platforms to enable Matter-compatible cameras, expanding the scope of devices that can be integrated under a single smart home framework.
The rollout, scheduled to begin later this month, extends SmartThings’ existing Matter support beyond lights, switches, door locks, and sensors to include cameras. This development aligns with Samsung’s broader effort to position SmartThings as a central hub for connected home devices that operate across different manufacturers and communication protocols. Rather than introducing new proprietary features, the update focuses on interoperability and practical functionality.
Matter 1.5 was introduced in November by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the industry body responsible for overseeing the Matter standard. One of the most anticipated aspects of this release is native camera support, which has been a notable gap in earlier versions. Cameras are often central to home security and monitoring setups, and their absence limited Matter’s usefulness for more comprehensive smart home deployments.
Under Matter 1.5, supported camera types include indoor and outdoor security cameras as well as video doorbells. Core functions such as live video streaming, two-way audio communication, motion detection, event history, and pan-tilt-zoom controls are defined at the standard level. In addition, the update introduces improvements for other device categories, including motorized closures like blinds and garage doors, along with enhancements related to energy management.
For device manufacturers, SmartThings’ adoption of the updated standard reduces the need to build and maintain platform-specific integrations. Camera makers can develop Matter-compliant products that work with SmartThings without relying on customized APIs, potentially shortening development cycles and lowering integration costs. Samsung has confirmed collaboration with several IoT companies, including Aqara, Eve, and Ulticam, with Matter-based camera products expected to appear from early 2026.
SmartThings already supports a broad range of camera brands and protocols, working with companies such as Arlo, Philips Hue, and Ring. The addition of Matter camera support expands user choice rather than replacing existing integrations, allowing households to mix and match devices more freely.
From a user perspective, integrating cameras into the Matter-enabled SmartThings environment supports common scenarios such as remote home monitoring, checking in on pets, and triggering automated routines linked to doorbells or motion events. These capabilities reflect incremental improvements rather than a shift in how smart homes operate, but they contribute to a more consistent experience across devices.
Samsung continues to promote an open-platform approach through its Works With SmartThings certification program, which now covers thousands of device models from hundreds of partner brands. By expanding Matter support to cameras, SmartThings reinforces its role as a platform focused on compatibility and scale rather than exclusive features.
