The Canary

Zemismart Matter Filament Lightbulb Review

Zemismart, initially known for its Tuya-powered products, recently ventured into the expanding market of Matter-enabled smart home devices, ranging from lightbulbs to Zigbee bridges. They also teased their Matter-Over-Thread sensors on their social media platforms.

I received a review unit — a Matter-enabled filament bulb — from Zemismart. After weeks of using it across various ecosystems, here are my takes:

TL;DR
Pros
• Simple, app-free setup
• No bridge required
• Solid build quality
• Dimmable and adjustable
• Fair pricing
Cons
• Too bright even at 1% brightness
• Lacks additional features found in rival products

First Impressions

The bulb arrived in a plain, thin box, which contained the bulb and a user manual. The Matter setup code is affixed to both the manual and the light bulb. Unfortunately, a sticker on the glass part of the bulb left residue when removed, which required careful cleaning due to the bulb’s delicate glass.

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A close shot of the Matter filament lightbulb.

Upon powering up, the bulb immediately caught my attention. Its white light and crystal-clear glass create a visually pleasing effect. The bulb features a classic Edison-style, water-drop shape, with a filament that gives it an antique yet modern look.

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A shot on its light filament components.

For comparison, I tested filament bulbs from Ikea and Philips Hue. Although a similar Hue model has darker glass, which adds texture and softens the light source, Zemismart’s clear glass design offers its own unique charm.

Pairing Process

I tested the bulb with Home Assistant, Apple Home, and SmartThings. The setup was straightforward — simply scan the setup code. However, like most Wi-Fi-based smart home devices, it only supports 2.4 GHz access points, so ensure your phone is connected to the right network during setup.

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Control interface on Apple Home, SmartThings, and HomeAssistant

The pairing process was smooth, typically succeeding on the first or second attempt, which is impressive compared to some rivals. The bulb provides a visual indication by blinking when in pairing mode.

Key Performance

For a Wi-Fi device, its connectivity is top-notch — fast and responsive all the time. While brightness might occasionally bounce on certain Matter platforms like Home Assistant, it doesn’t significantly impact the overall experience.

Stability is satisfying. The bulb quickly reconnects after a power cycle or network recovery. During my testing weeks, the device remained consistently responsive across all three platforms I used.

Note: Actual performance may vary based on your network conditions. My network setup includes a router, a dumb switch, and an access point, with 2.4 GHz reserved for IoT devices.

Filament bulbs are meant to showcase their inner structure and create ambient lighting. I used this bulb in two Ikea lamps — one TVÄRHAND table lamp and a HÅRSLINGA floor lamp. Both effectively highlighted the bulb’s clean design.

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Zemismart filament light on a table with a frame and accessories around.

As an eight-wattage (806 lumens) lightbulb, it is bright enough for a dim ambiance in your bedroom. If that’s for the dining room’s chandelier, two or three would be ideal.

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Filament light on a floor lamp.

However, the bulb’s minimal brightness level is still quite bright, which can be distracting, especially compared to offerings from Ikea and Hue. This makes it less suitable for table or work lamps. For applications where the light source is above eye level, such as floor lamps or chandeliers, Zemismart’s bulb is an excellent choice.

With Matter, I can create scenes across different platforms and control the bulb simultaneously. I set up motion-triggered automation in Home Assistant and used SmartThing Station’s programmable button for manual toggling. As a daily iPhone user, I often command Siri or use my phone for remote control.

Matter’s Limitations

Matter offers excellent interoperability across platforms but with basic functionality. Features such as power-on status, transitions, light effects, and adaptive lighting — common in modern smart lights — are not available with Matter alone. However, Zemismart has announced that an app is coming soon, which will offer OTA updates and additional features like power-on status.

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Zemismart Light with its brand logo on it.

I would say that’s a nice pick for a smart home addition — solid performance, easy setup, and Matter support. And it works wonderfully with a chandler or floor lamp for a cozy ambiance.

However, if you fancy any extra features that Matter lights cannot offer, hold it until Zemismart release its app or turn to rivals like Wiz.

Zemismart filament light is on a 45 precent discount, priced at $16.5 on Zemismart’s online store.