Google’s announcement that the Nest Thermostat model released in 2020 will receive Matter support is significant news for both Nest Thermostat users and smart home enthusiasts.
Google’s Nest Thermostat now supports Apple HomeKit
Matter is an open-source, cross-platform protocol that allows smart home devices to communicate with each other and with different ecosystems, making it easier for consumers to choose the devices and platforms they want without being locked into a single brand or ecosystem.
This means that Nest Thermostat users can now control their devices with Apple’s Home app and Siri on their iPhones and other devices. For iOS users, this functionality will require updating to iOS 16.4 or later, so it is important to make sure that the latest version is installed to take advantage of this feature.
Google has stated that the rollout of Matter support for the device will be completed over the next few weeks, with an automatic over-the-air software update. This means that users do not have to take any action to enable the new feature, making it a seamless process.
In the Home app, users can now adjust the Nest Thermostat’s temperature, change its mode, and perform other functions that were previously unavailable to them. This adds a new level of convenience to the already feature-rich Nest Thermostat, and it’s sure to be welcomed by users who rely on their smart thermostats to control their home’s temperature.
It’s worth noting that while Google is exploring adding Matter support to older Nest thermostats, they remain incompatible with HomeKit for now. However, this could change in the future as Google continues to expand support for Matter across its range of smart home devices.
In conclusion, the addition of Matter support to the Nest Thermostat is a significant step forward for both Nest users and smart home enthusiasts. With cross-platform support for Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Home, Amazon’s Alexa, Samsung’s SmartThings, and other smart home platforms, Matter is set to become a key player in the smart home ecosystem, making it easier for consumers to choose the devices and platforms they want without being locked into a single brand or ecosystem.
