Do you or don’t you need a smart home hub?

With the introduction of thesemi-universal Matter protocol, many may say no.

There aremany hubs available, each offering differing degrees of compatibility with specific brands and connection methods.

Amazon Echo Show Hub displaying Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Food Network apps.

Amazon

Here’s why they’re still worth getting.

Amazon’s Echo Hub is a centralized unit designed to help you take complete control over your whole-home automation.

The Echo Hub features an 8" touchscreen that serves as the control panel to your smart home.

Hands holding smart phone with app smart home on blurred house as backgrounds.

panuwat phimpha/Shutterstock.com

Blend ambient lighting with music with Govee’s RGBIC Aura Lamp table lamp.

The vibrant colors can bring 43 unique scenes to life while your favorite songs sync to set the mood.

Dimmable and fully customizable, the table lamp is brimming with personality.

Amazon Echo Hub

Amazon’s Echo Hub is a centralized unit designed to help you take complete control over your whole-home automation. Connect to brands like Philips, Sengled, Govee, and Ring to manage individual apps, set scenes, or schedule device activation. The Echo Hub features an 8" touchscreen that serves as the control panel to your smart home.

Z-Wave is an alternate protocol similar to Zigbee that uses radio-wave frequencies to communicate with smart gadgets.

Regardless of which you use, they’re a reliable means of having an off-the-grid smart home.

It can also be a great way to set the mood or energize a party.

Govee Aura Lamp next to smart phone displaying Govee app.

Blend ambient lighting with music with Govee’s RGBIC Aura Lamp table lamp. The vibrant colors can bring 43 unique scenes to life while your favorite songs sync to set the mood. Dimmable and fully customizable, the table lamp is brimming with personality.

Similar features are also available on the Google Nest, Apple HomePod, and other smart hubs.

Z-Wave and Zigbee devices, for example, aren’t Matter compatible.

A smart home hub can bridge the gap between devices that are both compatible and incompatible with Matter.

Honeywell’s Home T9 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat displaying inside and outside temperature

Honeywell’s Home T9 thermostat gives you full control of your home’s climate, allowing you to adjust temperatures no matter where you are. Schedule air conditioning and heat for when you’re not home to ensure you return to a comfortable environment that fits the season.

A hub cuts this burden down by redirecting every smart gadget’s connection to its signal.

These devices aren’t incredibly popular, as most focus on Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave connections.

Sengled smart bulbs and lesser-known brands like Smonet tend to be Bluetooth only.

A display of the WELOV P200 Pro and some of its Matter-compatible hubs.

AiDot

Set passcodes and eKeys, activate fingerprint entry, and more with this smart deadbolt door lock.

Smonet Smart Deadbolt with phone displaying app.

Smonet’s Smart Deadbolt gives you peace of mind knowing that you can check on your door lock at any time using the designated app. Set passcodes and eKeys, activate fingerprint entry, and more with this smart deadbolt door lock.