Apple iPadOS 16.1 Beta 3 adds support for Matter protocol accessories

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens for the delivery of clues of lonely hydrogen molecules! CTOnews.com reported on September 26 that Apple recently released a developer preview update of iPadOS 16.1 Beta 3, and the official version of iPadOS 16.1 is expected to be released in October this year. Some netizens found that after upgrading the preview version of iPadOS 16.1, the Matter accessories option appeared in iPad devices (setting → generic → Matter accessories).

The Matter Accessories section of the iPad device says, "the above Matter accessories have been added to connection services, and they can also be added to more services through App that supports Matter."

However, an Apple spokesman said in June that iPad can still be used as an Home Hub, but there is one caveat: iPad does not support the new home architecture launched later this year. The previous preview page of iOS 16 indicated that Matter accessories relied on Apple TV 4K or HomePod as Home Hub and did not mention iPad. But now it looks like Apple may change its mind.

CTOnews.com learned that the Matter smart home agreement, led by giants such as Google, Amazon and Apple, is compatible with Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit ecology, and devices that support Matter can interconnect, get rid of the ban of platforms and systems, and achieve multi-collaboration among products of different brands.

"inventory of major events since October: iPhone 14 Plus launch, iOS 16.1 real-time event, M2 iPad Pro / iPadOS 16.1 release."