Remember when setting up smart home cameras meant juggling multiple apps, different privacy policies, and compatibility headaches? That frustrating experience might finally be coming to an end.
On November 20, 2025, the Connectivity Standards Alliance dropped Matter 1.5, and this isn’t just another incremental update. For the first time ever, the interoperability standard now supports security cameras, potentially changing how we think about smart home security and privacy.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Matter 1.5 adds native camera support to the smart home standard
- Major players like Google and Apple are backing the standard
- Aqara plans to release its first Matter camera in early 2026
- Existing cameras may get Matter support through updates
Why Camera Support Changes Everything
Until now, Matter handled lights, thermostats, and sensors beautifully, but cameras remained isolated in their own ecosystems. You’d buy a camera from one brand, download their specific app, and hope it played nicely with your other smart devices. That fragmentation created security gaps and privacy concerns that Matter 1.5 aims to solve.
According to 9to5Mac’s coverage, the update brings cameras into the unified Matter ecosystem for the first time. This means your security cameras can now communicate directly with other Matter-certified devices without needing manufacturer-specific bridges or complicated workarounds.
What This Means for Privacy Advocates
If you’re concerned about who can access your camera feeds or where your video data gets stored, Matter’s approach offers several advantages. The standard emphasizes local control and minimizes unnecessary cloud dependencies, meaning your footage stays within your home network whenever possible.
As CE Pro reports, Matter 1.5 introduces support for additional device types beyond just cameras, creating a more cohesive privacy framework across your entire smart home. When all your devices speak the same language, you have clearer visibility into what data is being shared and when.
Here’s the crucial part for privacy-conscious users: Matter’s certification process requires manufacturers to meet specific security standards. This creates a baseline level of protection that wasn’t guaranteed when every company used their own proprietary systems.
The Real-World Impact on Your Smart Home
So what does this actually look like in your home? Imagine your Matter-certified camera detecting motion and automatically turning on your Matter-compatible lights without needing complex automation setups or third-party services. The entire interaction happens locally, faster and more securely than cloud-dependent alternatives.
We’re already seeing manufacturers respond to this new capability. Aqara’s product team stated:
“We’re happy to share that Aqara’s first Matter camera is expected to be released in H1 2026. We’re also planning to roll out Matter support for some of our existing cameras.”
This suggests that even if you own current-generation smart cameras, you might not need to replace them entirely. Firmware updates could bring Matter compatibility to devices you already own, though this will depend on each manufacturer’s update policies.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the promising developments, Matter 1.5’s camera support isn’t a magic bullet. Early adopters should be aware that implementation details matter—literally. How each manufacturer implements Matter support could vary, and we won’t know the full picture until the first cameras hit the market.
There’s also the question of feature parity. Will Matter cameras support all the advanced features we’ve come to expect, like person detection, package recognition, or advanced night vision? The standard provides the foundation, but manufacturers still control how many bells and whistles they include.
Another consideration: while Matter enables local control, many users still want remote access to their cameras. This means some cloud integration will likely remain, creating potential privacy trade-offs that users will need to evaluate based on their individual security priorities.
The bottom line:
Matter 1.5 represents the most significant step forward for smart home security since the standard’s initial launch. By bringing cameras into the unified ecosystem, it addresses fundamental privacy concerns while making smart home security more accessible and interoperable.
The real test will come in early 2026 when the first Matter cameras arrive. If manufacturers implement the standard thoughtfully, we could be looking at a future where setting up a secure, private smart home becomes dramatically simpler and more transparent.
If you’re interested in related developments, explore our articles on How Apple Silicon Revolutionized Computing in Just Five Years and Why Your Samsung Phone Just Became a National Security Priority.
