Key points:

• iPhone 15 Pro is the first smartphone to support the Thread protocol, which can communicate directly with smart home devices.
• Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol that enables easy communication between IoT devices regardless of the smart home system used.
• Thread relies on a combination of technologies and is backed by a range of businesses including Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung to create better device connections.

The iPhone 15 Pro is the first smartphone to support the Thread protocol, allowing it to communicate directly with smart home devices such as smart locks and light bulbs. So, what is Thread and why is it so important?

What is Thread and why is it important?

Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol designed to enable "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices to easily communicate with each other. It is an open, royalty-free standard born out of the desire for greater interoperability and compatibility between different devices, especially smart home devices.

In short: Thread and its underlying technology are designed to allow smart home devices to work together, whether using Google, Amazon, Apple or other smart home systems.

Thread was first conceived in 2015 and officially launched in 2019. By 2021, it was already winning awards for its bold vision for a more consumer-friendly smart home future. The technology was originally proposed as an offshoot of the Connected Homes over IP Project (CHIP for short), which later became Matter. Both Matter and Thread are overseen by the Connectivity Standards Alliance.

On the technical side, Thread uses the 2.4GHz band, like Wi-Fi, which provides decent coverage at the expense of overall bandwidth. As with any mesh technology, the more devices you add, the more powerful the Thread network becomes because there are more nodes to facilitate communication on the network. The protocol has built-in Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security, a common standard widely used in the technology world.

Thread isn't the only low-power mesh network, nor is it the first. The technology is very similar to technologies like Zigbee and Z-Wave, but Thread eliminates the need for devices to connect to a central hub to communicate with each other.

Thread is at the core of eliminating the limitations that many consumers encounter when using existing smart home devices. When "buying" a system like Google or Amazon, there are often limitations on the devices that can be used. Another approach is to connect many different Wi-Fi devices to your home network and use proprietary apps and interfaces to control them.

While Thread devices don't require a central hub to coexist, the technology relies on "border routers" to connect to the wider internet. That's the case with the iPhone 15 Pro, which joins Apple's other Thread border router devices like the HomePod mini and Apple TV (3rd generation).

Thread needs to work together

Although Thread is a network protocol, the wider system relies on a combination of technologies to work. A single Thread device creates a mesh network of nodes, allowing low-bandwidth operations to be sent and received using the Thread radio, such as turning on a light or recording motion on a sensor.

Higher-bandwidth operations, like streaming video from a security camera or casting audio to a smart speaker, still rely on Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Among other things, Thread uses Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) to register devices on the network. The Matter system on which Thread is based is indeed a comprehensive achievement in technology.

It is also a joint effort among the companies involved in the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which oversees the project. These include Google, Amazon, Apple, Ikea, Samsung SmartThings, and more. Some of the biggest smart home competitors have joined forces to bring products to market that make devices more connected.

This commitment to creating interconnected standards is a rare moment of collaboration between these groups, and ultimately those who benefit the most are consumers. Thread and Matter are built on open standards.

Thread and iPhone 15 Pro

Arguably, Apple stands to benefit the most from Thread, which may explain why the iPhone 15 Pro is the first smartphone to feature a Thread radio. The company ranks third in smart home, far behind Google and Amazon.

HomeKit, Apple's smart home API, has come a long way and is constantly improving, but there are many more devices that rely on Google or Amazon's platforms, especially ones that are competitively priced. iPhone

The 15 Pro demonstrates Apple's commitment to technology that can accelerate the development of its smart home products.

This is a good thing, especially if you use an iPhone or have other Apple devices at home. Greater interoperability is good for consumers overall, even those using Android smartphones. No matter which system you use, it's good to see Thread taking over.

Apple's "Pro" smartphones are cutting-edge devices that are often used as a testing ground for new technologies like OLED displays. Thread is expected to enter base models as early as next year.

As Thread trickles into other iPhone models over the next few years, more and more Apple customers will be ready to use support for their smart home devices. Certain Apple

TV and HomePod models may already support Thread, but Apple sells far more iPhones than speakers and set-top boxes. The Connectivity Standards Alliance already consists of companies that make competing smartphones, which often respond to iPhone advances with their own implementations.

In many ways, the adoption of Thread echoes the adoption of universal USB-C charging cables. Consumers will only benefit in the long run, but it will take some time to realize its true potential.

The best way forward for your smart home setup is to buy a device that works with Matter and uses Thread. It's pretty simple: When buying a smart home device, just look for a "Built on Thread" or similar sticker on the box or in the product description online.