Smart cameras are only as good as how reliably you can access them, and they have remained as one of Matter’s trickiest challenges. The Connectivity Standards Alliance is addressing this with Matter 1.5.1, an incremental but meaningful update focusing on refining device performance and improving flexibility across ecosystems. The latest version is aimed at cameras and video doorbells that joined the Matter ecosystem last November.
Small update that fixes smart home friction
The biggest change in Matter 1.5.1 is how camera feeds are delivered. You’ve got a doorbell camera, and you want to view it on your phone, smart display, or analyze motion clips at the same time. Previously, that meant separate video streams for each, eating through bandwidth and adding unnecessary complexity. The newest version fixes this issue by delivering multiple optimized feeds simultaneously.
Cameras can provide a high-resolution copy for cloud storage, a lighter version for mobile viewing, and a stream suited for video analysis or AI. The result is less bandwidth waste, simpler ecosystem integrations, and fewer headaches when two people try to pull the same camera feed at once.
JPEG has been the default image format for a long time now, but Matter 1.5.1 is changing that by adding support for modern formats, including HEIC—the same codec Apple has been using on its iPhones for years. It delivers better image quality at a smaller file size. The update also brings support for HLS and DASH streaming upload through the CMAF Interface-2 profile. That’s a lot of acronyms, but it simply means improved compatibility with the cloud infrastructure that modern streaming platforms use.
Pan-tilt-zoom cameras are enhanced with more flexibility to better handle setups where a camera’s default ‘home’ position sits near the edge of its physical rotation range. Anyone who’s mounted a PTZ camera in a tight corner has likely wrestled with this issue.
Related
Smart home security is important, so why are updates such a hassle?
Install your updates (or die trying).
Beyond cameras, doorbells, chimes, and intercoms receive general reliability fixes. Chime devices, in particular, are the more interesting story. Previously, they were quite limited, as you could trigger them but couldn’t tell them what to play. Version 1.5.1 lets controllers request specific chime sounds instead of simply triggering a default tone. You can play different chimes depending on which doorbell is pressed, triggering seasonal or contextual sounds, and even triggering automations based on when a chime starts playing.
The update also adds support for integrated chimes along with cleaner signaling requirements to the Intercom device type. That should make chimes behave more consistently across ecosystems.
Beyond the aforementioned features, Matter 1.5.1 includes editorial clarifications, bug fixes, and specification refinements. The changelog isn’t glamorous, but the update plays a critical role in strengthening interoperability and ensuring that Matter-enabled devices continue to deliver a reliable experience across platforms.
Source: CSA
