The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) unveiled the Matter 1.6 specification on 18 June 2026 at its Unify conference. This update to the cross-vendor smart-home standard focuses above all on easier setup and better interplay between multiple ecosystems.
Setup via NFC
The most eye-catching feature is setup over NFC. The entire commissioning process now runs over bi-directional NFC (13.56 MHz), which is built into every modern smartphone. A handy side effect: a device can be set up before it is even powered on – a smart bulb could be configured before it is screwed in.
Joint Fabric and smarter thermostats
- Joint Fabric: the most important architectural change – a mechanism for managing devices across multiple ecosystems, and a step forward from the previous Multi-Admin function.
- Thermostat Suggestions: thermostats can evaluate commands from other devices against the user’s preferences. If you prioritise energy savings, for example, you prevent another device’s automation from overriding that setting.
There are also core improvements: a unified protocol for device capabilities and operation limits, secure storage of sensor event logs, better recognition of the mounting status of smoke and CO alarms, and more scalable certificate revocation lists. Alongside it, the CSA announced the Product Security 1.1 specification. For users, the new features become visible as manufacturers build them into devices and hubs.
