I suspect that under the hood they are probably the same device, but I can’t say for sure. I’m not aware of the 40 child device limit myself, but I’ll look into it.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806206844534.html

Also, I’ve now seen several reports from different bloggers that their matter bridges are topping out at 40 child devices when brought into Apple Home. Any word on that?

Hi, this hub will only expose Tuya certified Zigbee devices to other platforms, including HomeKit, just like their previous hub. The difference here is that instead of HomeKit, they’re using Matter. This is good for Alexa and Google users, but not much difference to HomeKit users. As regards the Thread Border Router (TBR), at present this will not expose itself as a TBR to HomeKit for use, although it may do for other platforms. It will act as a TBR and Matter Controller for the Tuya platform, but until the forthcoming update to the Thread Protocol that will allow any TBR to be used across platforms, you’ll still need an Apple device with TBR functionality.

To be honest, when I was first informed about the M1 Bridge, ZemiSmart themselves weren’t very forthcoming with all of its capabilities, so it was only after thinking about the process of adding it, and trying out a third-party Matter device with it, that it became clear. As it stands, being a Matter bridge for Zigbee devices is the only benefit to Apple Home users, although with Matter, it makes devices local for Google and Alexa users now, which wasn’t the case before.

Interesting, thanks for the correction! The first specifications I saw on this didn’t list it as a Matter Controller, but it makes sense that it is.

The “matter bridge” functionality likely matters more to those who are not already using Apple home. For example, this now allows those Tuya Zigbee devices that it supports bridging to be added to Smartthings via Matter.

As always, thanks for the detailed reviews!

The ZemiSmart M1 is a Matter Controller for the Tuya system. This means Matter devices from other manufacturers can be added to the Tuya system via the M1. I did it with the Onvis Matter over Thread smart plug (it’s shown in the review). I’ve since tried it with a Matter over Thread Nanoleaf bulb, and it also worked. In essence the M1 is a Matter Bridge for ZemiSmart and Tuya certified Zigbee devices, and a Matter controller for Matter devices (Thread or WiFi). Whether you can add a Matter bridge like the Hue Bridge to Tuya, I’m not sure, but it should be possible in theory.

Additionally, it should be noted that whilst it’s also a Thread Border Router, using OpenThread, it doesn’t show up or act as such within Apple HomeKit, so it’s only for adding Matter over Thread devices to the Tuya ecosystem.

You are, of course, correct, that you must have a SmartThings “matter controller“ (one of the smartthings hub devices) in order to add any matter device to your smartthings account.

But there is good news. You can add the zemismart M1 to SmartThings as a “matter bridge,“ in which case it can bring in some of the Tuya Zigbee devices which are connected to it into your SmartThings account. Again, just like the Hue hub works. But it isn’t working as a “matter controller“ on the SmartThings platform, just as a “matter bridge.”

The zemismart M1 is a “matter bridge” but is not a “matter controller.“ That’s why you can’t add matter devices from other brands to it, but you can use it to add non-matter end devices of specific brand/models to other platforms when you add the M1 to those platforms.

This is exactly the same way that a Hue hub works, it’s not a matter controller. It is a matter bridge.

So, even though this is a thread border router, you can’t add an Eve matter over thread smart plug to either the zemismart M1. Because it is not a “matter controller.“

I know zemismart sometimes describes the M1 as a “matter hub“, which is what creates the confusion I think. Technically, there is no such thing as a “matter hub.”

“Matter bridges” allow for one way matter integration out.

“Matter controllers” allow for one way matter integration in.

It should be technically possible for an individual device to be both a matter bridge and a matter controller, but I haven’t seen one that is yet.

The Apple HomePod mini, for example, is a matter controller, so it can bring in matter devices from other brands. But it is not a matter bridge, so it does not share nonMatter devices connected to it with other platforms. The SmartThings hubs work the same way.

You can add it directly to SmartThings, but it would still require your SmartThings setup to have a SmartThings Matter controller. This would be the Smart Station or one of the older hubs that have been updated for Matter. This only acts as a Matter Controller for the Tuya platform, much like Apple TV is only a Matter Controller for Apple Home. When it comes to this hub and SmartThings, it’s only regarded as a Matter compatible Zigbee Hub, with a Thread Border Router thrown in.