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The Silicon Labs–Arduino partnership produced a software path for building Matter devices with Arduino tools, followed by a dedicated board: the Arduino Nano Matter. For an Arduino-first Matter prototype, the Nano Matter is the clearest starting point; the xG24 Explorer Kit and SparkFun Thing Plus Matter are alternatives for developers who prefer those board ecosystems.
What the partnership delivered
Announced at CES on January 9, 2024, the collaboration paired Arduino’s IDE and libraries with Silicon Labs’ wireless hardware to make Matter development more approachable. Arduino introduced a Matter library and an Arduino core for Silicon Labs microcontrollers as the first phase. Silicon Labs’ February 6, 2024 announcement said the software was initially available for two boards built around its xG24 platform. The planned second phase was a new Arduino Nano-family board using a Silicon Labs MGM240 module.
That hardware phase became the Arduino Nano Matter. Silicon Labs’ February 24, 2025 follow-up identifies the board’s wireless platform as the MGM240S. The practical result is a progression from Arduino-oriented software support on existing evaluation boards to a dedicated Nano-format Matter board.
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Choose according to the workflow and board format you want. The partnership announcements establish the platforms and their role in the rollout, but do not provide a current, like-for-like comparison of price, stock, debugging features, pin counts, or benchmark performance.
#1 Best Overall
![Arduino Nano Matter [ABX00112] - Prototype Board for Matter IoT Protocol, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Smart Home Integration](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SsALmShKL._SL160_.jpg)
- Seamless IoT Connectivity – Supports the Matter protocol, ensuring secure and reliable communication between smart home devices, regardless of brand, for a truly interoperable experience.
- Dual Wireless Technology – Features Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity, offering flexible options for IoT and embedded applications, improving network reliability and low-power operation.
- Compact & High-Performance – Designed with a powerful microcontroller in an ultra-small form factor, making it perfect for space-constrained applications without sacrificing performance.
- Developer-Friendly & Versatile – Fully compatible with the Arduino IDE and a vast library of resources, enabling quick prototyping and seamless integration into existing IoT ecosystems.
- Advanced Security & Reliability – Equipped with robust encryption and authentication, ensuring secure data transmission and protecting connected devices from cyber threats.
| Board | Best fit | What the partnership sources establish |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino Nano Matter | An Arduino-first Matter prototype, especially if you want the dedicated product from the partnership’s second phase. | Silicon Labs identifies it as an Arduino Nano board based on the MGM240S. The cited announcement does not establish current price or retailer availability. |
| Silicon Labs xG24 Explorer Kit | Developers who want to begin with Silicon Labs’ evaluation hardware and the initial Arduino Matter software support. | Silicon Labs listed it among the first boards supported by the libraries. The cited announcement does not establish current price or retailer availability. |
| SparkFun Thing Plus Matter – MGM240P | Developers who prefer the SparkFun board format and ecosystem while using the initial Arduino Matter software support. | Silicon Labs listed this xG24-based board among the initial supported platforms. The cited announcement does not establish current price or retailer availability. |
If you do not have a specific reason to choose another board format or vendor ecosystem, start with the Arduino Nano Matter: it is the direct hardware outcome and the most natural match for an Arduino-led prototype. Pick one of the other two if its evaluation-board approach or SparkFun ecosystem better suits your project. Check the manufacturers and retailers for current documentation, stock, and pricing before purchasing.
What Matter and Thread add to the Arduino workflow
Matter is a standard intended to help smart-home devices work across compatible ecosystems. Thread is a low-power wireless networking technology used by Matter devices; Bluetooth can also be involved in setup and commissioning. In this collaboration, Arduino contributes a familiar IDE and precompiled libraries, while Silicon Labs supplies the MGM24-family wireless platform and its associated connectivity and security capabilities. Together, those pieces offer makers a route into standards-based connected-device development without starting solely from a vendor-specific SDK.
Rank #2
![Arduino Nano Matter with Headers [ABX00137] - Compact IoT Development Board with Matter Protocol, Wi-Fi & Thread Support, Ideal for Smart Home & Embedded Applications](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41iqGsYcVZL._SL160_.jpg)
- Matter Protocol Support: Enables seamless integration with smart home ecosystems including Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa for unified IoT device control
- Dual Connectivity: Features built-in Wi-Fi and Thread networking capabilities for flexible wireless communication in embedded and smart home applications
- Compact Form Factor: Arduino Nano design with pre-soldered headers provides a space-efficient solution measuring approximately 1.77 x 0.71 inches, perfect for space-constrained projects
- IoT Development Ready: Purpose-built development board optimized for creating connected devices and prototyping Internet of Things applications with Matter standard compatibility
- Easy Integration: Pre-installed headers allow for immediate breadboard compatibility and quick connection to sensors, actuators, and other electronic components without soldering
That is an accessibility proposition, not proof that every project becomes simple or interoperable automatically. A prototype still needs suitable firmware, commissioning, and compatible Matter devices and networks. The announcements do not establish comparative performance or total project cost against other development platforms.
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Silicon Labs’ February 2024 release described Arduino and Silicon Labs as serving more than 33 million active users. Treat that as a figure quoted in the 2024 announcement, not as a current census. The same release said Silicon Labs engineers internally set up a new board, flashed it as a Matter device, and prepared it for commissioning in under two minutes. That is a vendor-reported internal test, not an independent benchmark or a guarantee of setup time for every developer or project.
Rank #3
![Arduino® Matter Discovery Bundle [AKX00081] DIY IoT & Smart Home Prototyping Kit with Matter-Over-Thread Board + 7-Module Learning Curriculum](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HGMhBJfcL._SL160_.jpg)
- Learn & Build with Matter, Faster. Everything you need to learn, prototype, and build Matter-enabled devices in one complete bundle. Experiment with the industry-backed, open-source Matter protocol without setup friction and focus on innovation instead of infrastructure.
- Complete Hardware + Guided Curriculum. Includes the Arduino Nano Matter board, Nano Connector Carrier, 3 Arduino Modulino nodes (Latch Relay, Distance, and Thermo) – plus access to a dedicated 7-module online curriculum that takes you from beginner concepts to building real, certifiable Matter-over-Thread devices with hands-on exercises.
- Designed for Learning, Prototyping & Teaching. Ideal for self-learners, educators, workshops, and developers. Teach modern IoT standards, build interoperable smart devices, and gain industry-relevant experience with real-world hardware and protocols.
- Interoperable by Design – No Vendor Lock-In! Build devices that work seamlessly across major smart home and virtual assistant ecosystems. Matter ensures compatibility with products from many manufacturers, reducing fragmentation and future-proofing your designs.
- Debug Faster & Prototype Smarter. Leverage debugging-over-USB, extensive open-source documentation, and community resources to speed up development, validate interoperability, and test devices in realistic smart home environments.
What the companies said
Rob Shane, then Silicon Labs’ vice president of Mass Market Sales and Applications, said the combination of Arduino libraries and Silicon Labs hardware would give developers “the best of both worlds” in security, energy efficiency, and processing power for Matter. Arduino CEO Fabio Violante described the collaboration as a step toward “democratizing the development of Matter applications.” Those statements explain the companies’ aims; they are not comparative test results.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enhanced Connectivity: Combines 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5(LE), and IEEE 802.15.4 radio connectivity, allowing you to apply the Thread and Zigbee protocols.
- Matter Native: Supports building Matter-compliant smart home projects thanks to its enhanced connectivity, achieving interoperability
- Security Encrypted on Chip: Powered by ESP32-C6, it brings enhanced encrypted-on-chip security to your smart home projects via secure boot, encryption, and Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)
- Outstanding RF performance: Has an on-board antenna with up to 80m BLE/Wi-Fi range, while reserving an interface for external UFL antenna
- Leveraging Power Consumption: Comes with 4 working modes, with the lowest being 15 μA in deep sleep mode, while also supporting lithium battery charge management.
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos;ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- 1PCS 30Pin ESP32 Development Board 2.4GHz WiFi Dual Cores Microcontroller Integrated with Antenna RF Low Noise Amplifiers Filters
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
