Although Matter has officially launched, you still can’t buy a Matter-compatible device to use with the new smart home standard. Today, smart home device maker Meross announced its Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini, its first Matter-enabled smart plug. You can pre-order it now for its December 31 release.
This might be the very first device you can buy with the Matter logo on it, signifying that it’s ready to go with Matter out of the box. While some companies have announced updates to existing products — including Eve and Wiz, who have said they’ll be rolling out firmware upgrades to their existing products this year — most have said devices with built-in Matter won’t be available until next year.
The Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (MSS115) costs $49.99 for two, but the company offers 50 percent discount on pre-orders through the website. A smart Wi-Fi plug that works exclusively with Matter, according to the Meross product page the plug is set up using a Matter QR code and pairing it with a Matter controller.
Currently, only Apple and Samsung SmartThings have support for the new standard in their apps and hubs, so you’ll need to use the Apple Home app and a HomePod Mini or Apple TV, or a SmartThings hub and SmartThings app to use the device until more platforms are adding support for Matter.
While Meross is committed to supporting Matter in future products, it has not confirmed whether its existing products will be upgraded. The range of smart devices – including smart plugs, switches, bulbs and smart door controllers – already works with all major ecosystems. One of the main features of Matter is control by multiple administrators, the ability to control your devices simultaneously with Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings. This is already possible with most Meross devices.
In the future, however, buying Matter devices should help future-proof your smart home. Matter is an open-source standard, so compatible devices can run on any Matter-compatible platform, not just the big four.
