Earlier this year, IKEA introduced a new affordable range of smart home devices comprising various sensors, remote controls and light bulbs, all compatible with Matter. At the same time, we saw smart home features being added to iconic product lines, such as the Varmblixt donut-shaped lamp.
I got a sneak peek of the new range at CES in January, and then met up with David Granath, range manager for lighting and home electronics at IKEA, to find out more about the brand’s long-term smart home plans.
The rebooted Matter-compatible smart home range comprises 21 new devices, almost all of which cost less than $10/£10. There’s a remote control range, motion sensors for doors and windows, water leaks, humidity and temperature, air quality, plus a smart plug and several smart bulbs. Some are now available to purchase and others will be available starting in April.
These are all standalone smart products, but smart features are also making their way into existing products, although never just for the sake of it.
David highlights the new VARMBLIXT donut-shaped smart lamp as a great example of the brand’s approach, saying it will only be used “in places where it really improves a product.”
Don’t expect IKEA to turn its back on its home decor roots, either: It’s approaching smart functionality as an extension possibility rather than a new category. “In the long term, we don’t see smart products as a segment,” reveals David.
“We’re still a home furnishings company, but adding smart functionality is now affordable enough that we can give our products superpowers. In the long term, we think we have the opportunity to make life at home quite a bit better.”
Simple, affordable and relevant
Some of the new sensors were previously available in older ranges, but a very important update here is that the new versions are compatible with Matter. Working with the universal Matter standard was essential to IKEA’s smart home vision. “It removes one of the biggest barriers to getting started with a smart home,” says David.
Commodity compatibility means customers don’t have to spend time and effort understanding standards and ecosystems, or making sure product X works with hub Y; The products will connect and simply work.
“For us, Matter is an important step in making smart homes simpler, more affordable and therefore relevant to more people,” he adds.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and tiktok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
