The News, Explained
Home Assistant announced support for Matter 1.5 cameras in its 2026.11 update on November 4, 2026. Home Assistant is software for managing smart home devices in one place; Matter is a common standard for connecting devices from different manufacturers. For a Matter camera to show up, the connected Matter server also needs a version that recognizes cameras. Once added, the camera offers live video and snapshots. Source Source
Speaking to someone near the camera is a separate preview feature. Turn on two-way audio in Labs under the System section of Settings. A talk button then appears in the live view when the camera and its integration support it. An integration is software that connects a device to Home Assistant. The camera must stream through WebRTC, a way to carry live video and audio. Source Source
The integrations that support talkback in this release are Matter and Reolink. A Reolink camera must support two-way audio and be set to stream over RTSP. For example, a Reolink camera set to use RTMP or FLV can show video, but that connection cannot send your voice back to it. The browser also needs microphone access, which requires opening Home Assistant over a secure HTTPS connection. Source Source
OYOPICK’s Take
If you want to see who is at the door and say a few words to them, both video and talkback matter. Bringing them together in one view is a welcome step. If the talk button is missing, the video alone tells you little about why. Checking camera and integration support, the way the video is streamed, and Labs and HTTPS separately can help you tell whether your existing camera will work or whether the connection needs a change. Source Source