The Thread Group has unveiled a new feature called Thread Direct, designed to simplify the setup of Thread-enabled smart home devices such as smart plugs and smart locks. The feature allows users to onboard these devices using only a smartphone or mobile device equipped with a Thread radio, eliminating the need for a dedicated Thread border router during initial configuration.
How Thread Direct Works
Thread is a low-power, low-latency mesh networking protocol that enables local communication between smart home devices. It is a key component of the Matter smart home interoperability standard, which is supported by major platforms including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant. Currently, setting up Thread devices typically requires a Thread border router—a device like an Apple TV, Eero Wi-Fi router, Google Nest Hub, or certain Amazon Echo smart displays—that bridges the Thread network to other networks and the internet.
Thread Direct removes the reliance on a border router specifically for the setup process. According to Anne Olivo, head of marketing at the Thread Group, the feature "removes reliance on the Thread Border Router for initial device setup." In an interview with The Verge, she added, "We hope that we’re going to make it a lot easier to set up and operate those Thread devices directly from a phone, a tablet, potentially a wearable."
Addressing a Common Frustration
Many smart home users have encountered a frustrating barrier: purchasing a Thread-enabled device only to discover they lack a compatible border router. This issue was highlighted when Matter first launched in 2022 and remains prevalent today. Thread Direct is intended to bridge this gap by enabling direct communication between a mobile device and a Thread device during setup. Users can commission a product and add it to their smart home app without needing a border router immediately.
However, a Thread border router is still required for full functionality, including remote access and automations. Olivo noted that the border router could be added later, similar to how Apple’s HomeKit allowed Bluetooth devices to be set up and controlled locally with an iPhone but required a Home hub for remote features.
Current Device Support and Future Plans
While most smartphones support Bluetooth, few currently have Thread radios. Apple and Google have been incorporating Thread radios into their devices, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro, and now offering broad support across their latest models. Apple introduced Thread with the HomePod Mini in 2020, and its newest tvOS 27 brings Thread 1.4 to Apple TVs, which also serve as Matter Controllers. iOS 18 enabled iPhones to control Matter and Thread devices directly in Apple Home.
Thread Direct is expected to be part of the next iteration of the Thread specification, likely Thread 2.0. The Thread Group has not yet announced a release timeline. Olivo also mentioned that the feature could extend to other use cases, such as pairing smart shades with a remote control using a Thread-enabled phone.
Correction Note
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Samsung flagship mobile devices have Thread radios. That is incorrect. Apple and Google remain the primary smartphone manufacturers with Thread integration.
