1 min readRoborock has confirmed its Matter-compatible robot vacuum cleaner, the S8 MaxV Ultra, will get Matter support before the year is out. Although there is no clear timeline as of yet, Roborock told Reviews.org that support will come in the form of a firmware update by the end of 2024.
This comes off the back of Apple's WWDC announcement that the Home App, and HomePod will soon support basic robot vacuum cleaner functionality. As part of the incoming OS updates due in September, the app and devices will comply with the Matter standard version 1.2. The protocol enables users to control features like remote start, recieve progress notifications, and toggle cleaning modes through supported Matter hubs rather than through individual applications.
This won't do away with manufacturer apps entirely. Functionality is still limited across not just robot vacuum cleaners, but all matter-supported smart devices. Users still need proprietary apps for features like robot vacuuming mapping, dynamic or adaptive lighting, adding security PINs to enabled smart locks, and firmware updates across the board.
All the usual home hubs support Matter - HomePod, Amazon Echo, and Google Nest devices. However there are only a handful of Matter-certified robot vacuum cleaners available globally. Apart from the S8 MaxV Ultra, there is the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Bundle, and a handful of SwitchBot models that are not readily available in Australia.
