Swedish furniture giant Ikea has just confirmed its major plan to revamp its existing smart home lineup with over 20 new Matter-enabled devices in the coming year, as The Verge reported.
The announcement follows last week’s initial release of Matter controller and Thread support for its smart home hub, Dirigera. This move serves as a foundational step toward integrating native Matter devices into the Ikea ecosystem.
What’s new from Ikea’s statement?
We’ve covered many of Ikea’s plans regarding Matter, including details about a number of new products in development – from the new Tradfri light bulbs to Zigbee-Thread dual-protocol smart sensors.
The statement confirmed most of our previous findings, including connectivity options and the possible product list. However, the lineup is larger than expected – over 20 new devices with native Matter support will replace existing models, featuring refreshed designs and starting prices as low as $10.
So, in addition to new Tradfri light bulbs, PIR sensors, Dual Scene buttons, Flow sensors, and temperature and humidity sensors, Ikea is likely to introduce:
- Air quality sensors
- Air purifiers
- Smart plugs with power meters
- Blinds
- Dimmers
- Contact sensors
- Water leak detectors
- Modular light drivers
Ikea Range Manager David Granath also confirmed to The Verge that the new Matter lineup will include Touchlink – similar to the Matter binding feature – a key Zigbee capability. This feature allows device control and automation without the need for a hub.
Granath added that the first devices are expected to arrive in January, with additional launches planned for April. We may soon see further details unveiled in the FCC and Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) databases in the coming months.
Additionally, alongside Zigbee and Thread-based Matter devices, Granath indicated that there might be Wi-Fi-based Matter devices to make it easier for users without existing Thread networks.
How does this transition make a difference?
In short, Ikea’s move promises to lower pricing barriers and improve accessibility for Matter-enabled devices. Its well-known affordability likely means that Matter devices could soon become as reasonably priced as current Zigbee listings.
Furthermore, as a major player, Ikea is positioned to help prompt wider industry developments, encouraging the evolution of supply chains and reducing costs through increased production volumes. Other brands could thus more easily adopt these product lines and prebuilt solutions for affordable Matter smart-home devices, similar to how low-priced Tuya gadgets work on AliExpress.
Ikea’s competitive pricing could also significantly challenge other Matter vendors, compelling them to improve cost efficiency. It simultaneously raises an alert for traditionally conservative brands (such as Sonoff) to get out of their comfort zone of Zigbee and Wi-Fi technologies and transition to Matter-enabled ecosystems.
(Source: The Verge; Image Source: Ward Zhou)
