The CSA Releases Matter 1.5.1 Update For Cameras

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has released Matter 1.5.1, a minor update to the Matter specification that focuses on refining recently introduced features, particularly those relating to cameras and video doorbells.

Following the introduction of camera support in Matter 1.5, this latest revision builds on that foundation with a series of targeted improvements. These are designed to improve streaming efficiency, expand media format support, and offer greater flexibility for device makers, while also tightening up behaviour for related device categories such as chimes and intercoms.

MULTI-STREAM SUPPORT IMPROVES EFFICIENCY

One of the more notable additions in Matter 1.5.1 is support for multi-stream video and audio. Previously, when multiple clients required access to a camera feed, separate streams were often initiated for each device or service. With multi-stream support, a single camera can now deliver multiple optimised streams simultaneously within the same session. This allows different use cases to be handled more efficiently, such as:

• a high-resolution stream for recording or storage
• a lower-resolution stream for mobile viewing
• a stream tailored for analysis or AI-based processing
• simultaneous feeds from multi-lens cameras

By consolidating these into a single structured session, the update reduces bandwidth overhead, simplifies integration, and should improve reliability when multiple viewers or services are accessing the same device.

BROADER SUPPORT FOR MODERN MEDIA FORMATS

The update also expands support for newer media formats commonly used in camera systems. Snapshot images can now be delivered using the HEIC codec, offering improved image quality at smaller file sizes compared to JPEG. This has implications for both bandwidth usage and storage efficiency. For video, Matter 1.5.1 adds support for HLS and DASH streaming uploads using the CMAF Interface-2 profile. These formats are widely used across modern cloud and media platforms, and their inclusion should improve compatibility for recording and playback workflows.

IMPROVEMENTS TO CAMERA BEHAVIOUR

A number of changes in the release address camera operation and reliability. Updates to pan-tilt-zoom behaviour provide more flexibility in how cameras handle positioning, including scenarios where the default ‘home’ position sits at the edge of the device’s rotation range. There are also fixes to recording configuration validation, aimed at preventing invalid setups and improving consistency across different platforms and ecosystems.

REFINEMENTS FOR DOORBELLS AND RELATED DEVICES

Matter 1.5.1 also includes updates for device types commonly associated with cameras. Doorbells receive general stability improvements, while chime devices gain additional functionality. Controllers can now request specific chime sounds, rather than relying solely on a default tone. This opens the door to more advanced use cases, including:

• different sounds for different doorbells
• seasonal or contextual chimes
• automations triggered by chime playback

The intercom device type has also been updated, with clearer signalling requirements and support for integrated chimes, helping to ensure more consistent behaviour across platforms.

ONGOING REFINEMENT OF MATTER

As with most point releases, Matter 1.5.1 also includes a range of smaller fixes, clarifications, and specification refinements. Many of these relate to the camera features introduced in version 1.5. While incremental, these changes are part of a broader effort to improve interoperability and reliability across the Matter ecosystem, particularly as more device categories are brought into scope.