Ikea has announced the launch of over 20 new affordable smart home devices that will support the Matter protocol, beginning in January 2024. This initiative represents a significant commitment to the Matter ecosystem, allowing users to integrate a wide range of smart devices into their homes regardless of the brand. The devices, which include lights, sensors, remotes, plugs, and air-quality monitors, will be priced starting at less than $10.
In a recent interview with The Verge, Ikea detailed how its Dirigera hub has evolved from a basic Matter bridge to a fully functional Matter Controller, complete with Thread border router capabilities. This upgrade enables the hub to communicate directly with Matter devices from various manufacturers, not just those made by Ikea. Users will be able to manage all connected devices through the Ikea Home Smart app, streamlining the smart home experience.
While this development enhances compatibility, it is important to note that Ikea does not yet support all Matter device types, which currently exceed 40 categories. This limitation means that certain devices, such as robot vacuum cleaners and smart locks, will not be compatible with the new system. The lack of comprehensive support for Matter devices is a challenge faced by multiple brands in the market.
The update introduces support for Matter 1.4 and Thread 1.4, enabling features such as energy monitoring and integration with existing Thread networks. The Dirigera hub will continue to operate as a Matter Bridge for older Zigbee devices, ensuring that products from the Tradfri era remain functional. Additionally, Ikea is maintaining Zigbee’s Touchlink feature, which allows direct pairing between devices without requiring a hub or app.
Expanding the Smart Home Ecosystem
The new Matter-over-Thread devices from Ikea will also be compatible with any Matter Controller that supports Thread border routing. This includes popular devices like the Apple TV, Amazon Echo smart speaker, and dedicated hubs from platforms such as Homey and SmartThings. As a result, these products will seamlessly integrate into major home ecosystems, including Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and others.
Ikea’s move to enhance its smart home offerings is complemented by its efforts in the audio segment. The company is revamping its speaker range after discontinuing much of the Sonos-powered Symfonisk line earlier this year. A new retro-style Bluetooth speaker, the Nattbad, was launched last month for $50, and a speaker-lamp hybrid named Blomprakt, featuring Spotify Tap capabilities, is set to debut in October 2023.
The push towards Matter is particularly significant as the smart home platform has faced challenges since its launch in late 2022. Backed by major tech companies including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has made strides over the past 18 months to improve the usability and adoption of Matter across various brands and ecosystems.
Features introduced in recent Matter updates, such as Matter 1.4.1, include the ability to use a multi-device QR code for easy onboarding of multiple devices at once. This feature is expected to save time for users once it is implemented by leading players like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Samsung. Moreover, Enhanced Setup Flow and support for embedding onboarding data into NFC tags will further simplify the setup process, allowing users to tap their phones to devices without the need for scanning QR codes.
As Ikea prepares to launch its new range of smart home products, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the evolving smart home landscape, aiming to make connected living more accessible and user-friendly for a broader audience.
