Ikea just unveiled 21 new Matter-over-Thread smart home devices that work across brands - a complete departure from its Zigbee-only past. The collection hits stores globally this month, marking the furniture giant's biggest smart home play yet and potentially reshaping how consumers think about affordable connected devices.
Ikea is betting big on the smart home's future, and it's not looking back. The Swedish furniture giant just dropped 21 new Matter-over-Thread devices that can talk to everything from Apple HomeKit to Google Nest - a dramatic shift from years of Zigbee-only isolation that left customers locked into Ikea's ecosystem.
The timing couldn't be better. After years of delays and beta testing, Ikea's Dirigera hub finally became a proper Matter controller earlier this year, letting users mix and match devices from any brand. Now the company's doubling down with hardware designed from the ground up for interoperability.
"We can connect with a wider range of devices and platforms, making it easier for customers to build a smart home across different brands," the company announced today. It's a fundamental strategy shift that puts Ikea ahead of most retailers still selling proprietary systems.
The new Kajplats smart bulb collection simplifies what was previously a confusing mess of product names. Eleven variations now cover everything from standard E27/E26 globes to compact P45 bulbs and GU10 spotlights, each available in dimmable white or full color-changing versions. The largest decorative bulbs stretch to 95mm but stick to white spectrum only. Pricing ranges from £4 to £9 ($5.21 to $11.73) in the UK, putting them squarely in budget territory.
But the real game-changer might be the new Bilresa remotes. Unlike previous Ikea controllers designed for specific products, these generic two-button and scroll wheel versions can control any Matter device. The scroll wheel model switches between device groups using a bottom button - adjust speaker volume, then flip to control light colors. At £3 and £4 respectively ($3.90 and $5.20), they're positioned to become the universal remotes smart homes have been waiting for.
Ikea's expanding beyond lighting with five new sensors that address real home monitoring needs. The Myggspray motion sensor works indoors and outdoors, while Myggbett handles doors and windows with customizable notifications. Klippbok is a water sensor small enough to slide under appliances, complete with its own audible alarm for immediate leak detection.
