Apple's Adaptive Lighting support spreads to Matter smart lights

Adaptive Lighting is a HomeKit feature that allows for smart bulbs and lights to be adjusted throughout the day. It automatically alters the color temperature of the bulbs to a schedule, similar to the white balance adjustments of Night Shift.

While it has been available since iOS 14, the fall iOS 18 update will expand support to include smart bulbs and lights running using Matter, reports The Verge.

Previously, only a small number of smart lighting products supported the feature. For most consumers, that meant buying products from Nanoleaf, Philips Hue, Aqara, and Eve, and ignoring all others.

For consumers, the expansion to Matter means more lights will be able to work with the color temperature-adjusting function. This includes products from companies that did support Adaptive Lighting under HomeKit, but not on Matter-based models.

Nanoleaf told the report that it is testing out Adaptive Lighting on its Essentials Matter light range. Some users have already spotted the functionality within the iOS 18 betas.

While support will be expanded out, it won't necessarily mean all Matter lights will work with Adaptive Lighting from the start. Manufacturers will still have to enable the feature for it to work.