Which transport networks are natively supported by production Matter devices in 2026?
C — Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet
Matter Spec 1.x defines three native operating networks: Wi-Fi for mains-powered, high-throughput devices, Thread for low-power IPv6 mesh nodes (battery sensors, locks), and Ethernet for wired devices such as hubs and some smart plugs. Option A is wrong because Thread and Ethernet are equally first-class transports. Option B is wrong because it omits Ethernet, used by hubs and bridges. Option D is wrong because Zigbee is not a Matter transport at all; legacy Zigbee endpoints reach a Matter fabric only through a Matter Bridge. All three Matter transports share IPv6 addressing end-to-end.
If a colleague claims a device is "Matter over Zigbee", they really mean it is a Zigbee device behind a Matter Bridge; the radio is still 802.15.4 Zigbee, not Matter.
- A.Wi-Fi only
- B.Wi-Fi and Thread
- C.Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet✓
- D.Wi-Fi, Thread, Ethernet and Zigbee
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