IKEA is about to get a whole lot smarter thanks to Samsung. The furniture retailer’s new smart home product line has been integrated with Samsung SmartThings, making it more affordable for everyone to create their own smart home.
Samsung has added 25 of the latest Matter-over-Thread IKEA smart home devices, including smart bulbs and plugs. The range also includes a scroll wheel remote, temperature and humidity sensors, and air quality, motion, door and water leak sensors.
This new technology steps away from the previous hassle of connecting to IKEA smart-home devices to SmartThings, where both an IKEA smart home hub and a SmartThings hub were needed. Everything can now be connected directly.
What’s more, this integration also allows Samsung TV owners to control IKEA devices via the SmartThings app on their screen, as well as their air conditioning and even their washing machine.
This new integration will be welcome news to IKEA customers, looking for an affordable way to make their home smart.
“By connecting IKEA devices to SmartThings, even first-time smart home users can enjoy a familiar and easy connectivity experience without financial burden,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President of SmartThings, AI Platform Center at Samsung Electronics.
And he adds, “SmartThings will continue to expand its ecosystem through partnerships, enabling more consumers to enjoy seamless and convenient smart home experience within the SmartThings ecosystem regardless of brand or communication protocol.”
IKEA makes a smart home affordable
IKEA is certainly fixed on taking a place in the smart home market. In December last year, it announced the launch of its Matter-compatible smart-home appliances, enabling integration with major smart-home platforms. And true to IKEA’s roots, all of the products cost less than $30, apart from some Bluetooth speakers and lamps.
I’m particularly impressed with the look of the FADO lamp, which is available for $29 at IKEA, when used with KAJPLATS smart bulbs, $12 at IKEA. And with summer on its way, there’s a higher risk that my family will forget to close windows and doors before they go out — the MYGGBETT door/window sensor, $7 at IKEA, could be just what I need to alert me when my home isn’t secure.
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