The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) – the same organisation behind Matter – has overhauled the proven smart home radio standard with Zigbee 4.0 and the new sub-GHz brand “Suzi”.
What Zigbee 4.0 brings
Zigbee 4.0 delivers more robustness, better security and more unified cross-brand networks – strengths that were recently attributed more to Matter. Important for existing users: Zigbee 4.0 remains backward compatible with Zigbee 3.0 and Smart Energy devices.
Suzi: sub-GHz for long distances
Suzi builds on the Zigbee network layer but transmits in the sub-GHz band (800 MHz in Europe, 900 MHz in North America) instead of at 2.4 GHz. That brings significantly more range and a more reliable mesh – handy for large properties, outbuildings or agriculture. Certifications are expected to start in the first half of 2026. Zigbee thus remains the energy-efficient complement that integrates into Matter ecosystems via bridges.
Sources: Notebookcheck, Matter Alpha.
