This is the best summary I could come up with:

It’s designed to offer faster, more reliable connectivity for smart home devices than other options, with better range and longer battery life.

It’s found in some of the most popular smart home accessories, including door locks, light bulbs, sensors, shades, switches, plugs, buttons, and thermostats.

To set up any Matter-over-Thread device on a Matter-compatible smart home platform, you need both a Matter controller and a Thread border router.

Some use HomeKit-over-Thread, including older Nanoleaf Essentials light bulbs and Belkin Wemo’s Thread line.

It should be a device that’s always plugged in and has a permanent internet connection, and is most commonly a smart speaker like an Amazon Echo, Google Nest Mini, or Apple HomePod.

Any powered device that’s part of the mesh — like a smart plug or light bulb — can extend it, providing a stronger, more reliable network.

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