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The home-tech landscape has been shifting toward openness, and Ikea is one of the retailers pushing that change with a broad, low-cost lineup of smart home products. These devices are built to work with Matter — an open standard designed to let gadgets from different brands interoperate — and many of the new items also use Thread, an IP-based mesh networking protocol that improves responsiveness and reliability. For people who want simple automation without spending a fortune, Ikea’s collection is notable for both price and accessibility. If you already own an Ikea Dirigera Hub (priced at $110), you can add much of the new range without swapping hubs; new users should check for a Thread-capable Matter hub in their home before they start.
This article breaks down the key devices, real-world setup impressions, and how the Ikea pieces play with Samsung’s SmartThings platform. I’ll cover lighting, controls, and sensors — including the popular new bulb and compact remotes — then explain how SmartThings’ support for Matter-over-Thread widens automation possibilities. Along the way I’ll note prices and practical quirks you should know before buying, so you can decide whether Ikea’s approach suits your household.
What’s included and how they perform
Ikea’s new range includes lighting, plugs, buttons, and sensors designed to be inexpensive yet functional. The standout is the Kajplats smart bulb family: options range from a 450-lumen white-only lamp available for about $6 to a 1,100-lumen color model around $13. These bulbs are straightforward to install and, once paired, can show up in Apple Home and other platforms via Matter. The Bilresa remote is a tiny, versatile controller sold individually for around $6 or in a three-pack for about $15, with a version that adds a scroll wheel costing slightly more; official scroll wheel support is scheduled to arrive early 2026. For motion sensing, the Myggspray motion sensor is a low-cost option at approximately $8, designed primarily to trigger lights rather than to log historical activity. Ikea also bundles certain combos — for example, a bulb plus a Bilresa remote for $10 — which can be an economical way to add basic automation quickly.
Practical setup notes
In my hands-on use the bulbs and remotes connected with minimal friction; the Ikea home smart app recognized devices quickly and used Matter to surface them in other ecosystems. The Bilresa remote runs on AAA batteries (not included), and Ikea’s rechargeable Ladda cells are an option buyers might consider, sold at about $9 for four. Some sensors require a little configuration — for example, the Myggspray’s default behavior emphasizes turning lights on when motion is detected and uses schedules to avoid unwanted triggers at night. There’s no motion history stored on the device itself, so if you need detailed logs, pair the sensor with a hub or platform that records events.
SmartThings, Thread, and Matter: why they matter
At CES 2026, SmartThings highlighted native compatibility with Ikea’s Matter-over-Thread devices, meaning the new Ikea products can work directly with SmartThings’ hubs and Samsung appliances that act as local coordinators. SmartThings’ implementation emphasizes smooth onboarding, reliable Thread connectivity, and automation performance — in practice this makes adding a single Ikea bulb or sensor a gateway to multi-device routines. SmartThings also supports Thread credential sharing, which lets Ikea and SmartThings hubs join Thread networks in complementary ways to strengthen your home’s mesh. For example, a Bilresa remote can dim living-room lights automatically when you start your TV, or a temperature and humidity sensor might trigger blinds or HVAC adjustments through platform routines.
Matter 1.5 and camera support
SmartThings has also been an early adopter of Matter 1.5, a specification that brings cameras into the standard and expands support for motorized shades and doors. Partners like Aqara, Eve, and Xthings plan Matter-compatible cameras in the market early 2026, and having camera support as part of the same Matter ecosystem simplifies security and monitoring workflows. That coherence matters because it reduces the need for brand-specific cloud services or separate APIs — once devices speak Matter, you can mix-and-match hardware and still build consistent automations and alerts.
Should you start with Ikea Matter devices?
For newcomers, Ikea’s low prices and simple controls make for an attractive entry point: the cost barriers are low, the hardware is unobtrusive, and physical controls like the Bilresa make smart home features accessible to family members who don’t use voice assistants. Power users will appreciate the scalability — a house filled with inexpensive Thread-enabled bulbs and sensors creates a resilient mesh that complements higher-end hubs. Existing Ikea owners can bring their legacy setups into broader smart home platforms via Matter bridging, which lets a Dirigera Hub-based setup be controlled from SmartThings while adding new automations across brands. Overall, Ikea’s lineup is a practical way to expand automation without major complexity, especially if you or your home already has a Thread-capable hub or a SmartThings-enabled Samsung device.
In short, Ikea’s new range is less about novelty and more about lowering the friction for whole-home automation. By combining affordability, cross-platform Matter support, and compatibility with robust ecosystems like SmartThings, these products make it easier to build useful routines that actually get used. If you prioritize simplicity and value, Ikea’s approach is worth testing as your next smart home upgrade.