FRITZ! Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Routers Alongside Matter Bridge Support
FRITZ! unveiled its latest generation of FRITZ!Box routers at IFA 2026, alongside an upcoming software update that should be of particular interest to Apple Home users. FRITZ!OS 8.50 introduces Matter Bridge functionality, allowing compatible smart home devices connected to a FRITZ!Box to be exposed to Apple Home and other Matter ecosystems.
The company is also introducing several new Wi-Fi 7 routers, including the FRITZ!Box DSL/Fiber 7-90 and FRITZ!Box 6690 Pro, with the latter offering integrated Zigbee and DECT ULE support.
FRITZ!OS 8.50 BRINGS MATTER BRIDGE SUPPORT
For Apple Home users, the most significant announcement is the Matter Bridge functionality coming as part of FRITZ!OS 8.50. FRITZ! says the feature will allow its own smart home products, along with compatible third-party devices registered with the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro, to be integrated into existing Matter ecosystems, including Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.
This is particularly useful given FRITZ!’s existing support for smart home devices using DECT ULE and Zigbee. Instead of those devices requiring native Matter or Apple Home support, the FRITZ!Box can effectively act as the intermediary between them and a Matter platform. This is similar in principle to Matter bridges already offered by companies such as Aqara, Philips Hue, and SwitchBot, where devices using another wireless protocol can be exposed to Matter ecosystems through a compatible hub.
FRITZ! specifically identifies the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro when discussing the new Matter Bridge functionality, so it isn’t currently clear whether the feature will eventually be extended to all of the company’s new smart home-capable routers.
FRITZ!BOX 6690 PRO
Also announced at IFA is the market launch of the FRITZ!Box 6690 Pro, which the company describes as the first cable router to offer tri-band Wi-Fi 7. The router combines a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with Wi-Fi 7 across the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, with a combined theoretical wireless throughput of up to 12.2Gbps.
Of more relevance to smart home users is its integrated support for Zigbee and DECT ULE. This allows compatible smart plugs, sensors, lights, and other devices to connect directly to the router without requiring their own Zigbee bridge.
Interestingly, FRITZ!’s announcement describes the 6690 Pro as offering “Zigbee/Matter and DECT ULE support”, although its more detailed specifications currently list smart home support via DECT ULE and Zigbee. FRITZ! has not explicitly stated that the 6690 Pro will offer the same Matter Bridge functionality announced for the 5690 Pro. The FRITZ!Box 6690 Pro is available now, priced at €429.
NEW FRITZ!BOX DSL/FIBER 7-90
Making its world premiere at IFA is the FRITZ!Box DSL/Fiber 7-90, which also introduces a completely redesigned appearance for the FRITZ!Box range. As its name suggests, the router is designed to work with both DSL and fibre connections, including GPON and AON fibre networks. It offers tri-band Wi-Fi 7 with theoretical speeds of up to 12.2Gbps, along with multi-gigabit WAN and LAN connectivity.
Like the 6690 Pro, the DSL/Fiber 7-90 also incorporates both Zigbee and DECT, allowing it to serve as a smart home hub in addition to its networking duties. The new design reduces the physical controls to a single button and LED, with an integrated cable management system intended to keep connected cables hidden. FRITZ! says the design has already been nominated for a German Design Award. Pricing and availability for the DSL/Fiber 7-90 have yet to be announced.
MORE WI-FI 7 HARDWARE
FRITZ! is also expanding its networking range with the FRITZ!Box 5630 XGS, designed for XGS-PON fibre connections of up to 10Gbps, and the FRITZ!Box 6835 5G. The latter offers both 5G and 4G connectivity and supports Nano SIM and eSIM. It can also be powered via USB-C, allowing it to operate from a suitable power bank. Completing the networking announcements is the FRITZ!Repeater 6700 Pro, a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh repeater offering combined theoretical wireless speeds of up to 18Gbps, alongside 10Gbps and 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports.
FRITZ! SMART HOME EXPANDS
Alongside the routers and FRITZ!OS update, the company has also announced two additions to its own smart home range. The FRITZ!Smart Energy 201 is a compact smart plug scheduled to launch in October, while the FRITZ!Smart Thermo 303 is a new radiator thermostat designed as a smaller alternative to the existing Thermo 302.
For Apple Home users already invested in FRITZ! hardware, however, the Matter Bridge functionality is arguably the more significant development. It provides a route for FRITZ! smart home products, and potentially compatible third-party Zigbee and DECT devices, to become part of an Apple Home setup without requiring native Apple Home support. For now, FRITZ! has specifically confirmed this capability for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro. Whether the newly announced 6690 Pro and DSL/Fiber 7-90 will ultimately gain the same Matter bridging capabilities remains to be seen.
