Thread 1.4 Update: Enhancements for Smart Home Devices

There is finally some good news for anyone battling multiple Thread networks while using Matter devices in their smart home — as long as you are patient. According to Matter Alpha, the tvOS 26 beta announced at WWDC this week adds Thread 1.4 to Apple TVs. As Apple’s smart speakers utilize a fork of tvOS, it is likely that the upcoming HomePod OS 26 will also include Thread 1.4.

Thread 1.4 introduces a standardized method for Thread border routers, such as Apple TVs and HomePods, to join an existing Thread network, addressing the issue where border routers from different manufacturers set up separate networks when they join your smart home. “We are seeing a significant shift toward Thread 1.4 among some major device, platform, and border router vendors,” said Ann Olivo, VP of marketing at Thread Group, in an interview with The Verge.

However, with tvOS 26 not expected until the fall, and Google and Amazon’s adoption of Thread 1.4 projected for next year at the earliest, those who prefer to mix and match their smart home hardware — for instance, using an Apple TV, an Eero router, and a Google Nest Hub — will have to wait until at least 2026 for a more stable and efficient smart home experience.

Released in September 2024, Thread 1.4 is the latest specification of the smart home protocol that Matter runs on. Thread offers a low-power, low-bandwidth mesh networking protocol designed specifically for IoT devices such as lights, locks, sensors, and more. The 1.4 specification dictates that when a border router is added, it will join the existing Thread network versus creating a new one — regardless of brand or platform. For example, your new Echo Show 8 would seamlessly join the network already created by your Apple TV.

Thread-powered devices require a Thread border router to connect to the internet. Currently, there are several options for border routers, including the latest Apple TVs and HomePods, higher-end Echo and Google Nest smart speakers, and some Wi-Fi routers, including Eeros. If you own multiple devices, they may establish separate Thread networks, leading to complications. The primary issue is that you lose the extended range and reliability benefits of a unified mesh network.

In my own home, I currently have nine Thread networks running. Samsung SmartThings has created three of them. My Nest network includes most of my HomePods and my Google TV streamer; my Apple network consists of a newer Apple TV and a Nanoleaf border router. Additionally, I have three separate Eero networks, one dedicated to Eero devices and the other two to Echo devices. While my setup is not typical (as I test smart home devices for a living), it illustrates the potential chaos this can create.

To expedite the transition, Older versions of Thread are being sunsetted has been proposed. “Thread 1.3 certification applications for Thread Border Routers will close December 31, 2025,” Olivo confirmed. “As of January 1, 2026, Thread 1.4 will be the only specification available for Thread Border Router certification.”

With Apple set to implement Thread 1.4 this fall with tvOS 26, I reached out to Google, Amazon, and Samsung to inquire about their progress. All are still operating on 1.3. However, Mark Benson, head of SmartThings US, indicated that Samsung’s border routers will transition to 1.4 “later this year.” Amazon spokesperson Melanie Garvey stated they will introduce support for 1.4 “across compatible devices next year.” Alex Sakhartchouk, a software engineer at Google Home, confirmed that they are actively working toward adding support for Thread 1.4 “in the future.”

“As of January 1, 2026, Thread 1.4 will be the only specification available for Thread Border Router certification.”

Sakhartchouk added that Google Nest Thread border routers already “do our best” to join existing networks by integrating with mobile Thread credential storage APIs on Android and iOS. This means that when you set them up with your smartphone, they should share credentials with an existing border router using the phone. “We share our credentials via these same mobile APIs to allow others to join our networks,” he explained. This approach worked for me — when I set up the Google TV streamer, it successfully joined my existing Apple Thread network.

While mobile credential sharing provides assistance today, and the Wi-Fi router-based solution established by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in Matter 1.4 could offer future improvements, the most straightforward solution is for border routers to communicate with each other. This should have been the approach from day one — but it appears we will need to exercise patience a while longer.