Months later from my last post, Apple has become the first to roll out the now officially launched 'Matter' with its iOS 16, watchOS 16, tvOS 16, HomePodOS 16, macOS 13. While it may not be the full 'Matter' yet as Apple did announce a new update coming up (think it will be with iOS/tvOS/HomePodOS 16.2 and its equivalent for other OS platforms) that will spot a new architecture for its HomeKit.
Since a large part of my home automation has progressively migrated onto 'Thread'+'HomeKit' based over last 2+ years, I believe 'Thread' is becoming a very solid foundation which Matter framework sits on top of. Even some Zigbee-based device makers are now announcing new 2023 Matter-certified products to be based on 'Thread' instead of 'Zigbee'. During this period of running Thread-based HK, it has demonstrated how IPv6-based, low latency and rapid self-healing mesh-network can be. Thread+Matter = most promising (in the perspective of native) as it does not require different bridging hubs (e.g. Hue Hub, Ikea Hub, etc).
Since xOS 16 which brought Matter support, the entire 'Thread'-based automation have seen response matching Z-wave HA that I used to have (ditched when HC2 died and Fibaro distributor said back then no way to migrate HC3 seamlessly even using the cloud backup or usb-thumbdrive backup. Had to go through entire process of reset all Z-Wave module to re-include, re-add back all the scenes, scripts, virtual device, etc). Best of all, every firmware updating has been a breeze, no more stress of home automation breaking apart (like how it used to with HC2).
Excited to have progressive firmware releases from various major players such as Eve (in Dec), Signify (Hue, developer release available, public release delayed but tentatively Q1Y2023), etc to bring their products onto 'Matter'. Come December 2022, when Apple releases the new architecture of HomeKit, shall see if there is new improvement on the 'Shortcuts' automation that further enhance scripting and speed of processing complex 'Shortcuts'.
Just sharing how Thread and now Matter is turning out to be for me. 🙂