IKEA Debuts at CES with Affordable Smart Home Innovations

Exploring IKEA's Colorful Smart Creations at CES

During IKEA's inaugural presence at CES, the meeting room at the Venetian was as compact as my modest living room. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation to explore the Swedish designs on display, making the room feel packed. To help with my growing sense of claustrophobia, there was a bowl of BELÖNING bars, which allowed me to focus on their innovative smart home collection.

True to IKEA's style, their 21 devices compatible with Matter standards are sleek, no-fuss, and very budget-friendly. These products include a $6 innovative bulb, a smart plug at $8, plus a $6 remote control, alongside an array of home sensors. There's even a globe bulb priced at $15, fulfilling my desire for appealing yet economical smart bulbs.

Innovative and Organizable Remote Control

A highlight for me was the BILREA remote control. Shaped like a smooth pebble, it features two basic buttons or an alternative with a button and scroll wheel. It effortlessly syncs with IKEA's smart gadgets and lamps. Its standout feature is a built-in magnetic mount, allowing it to be placed on metallic surfaces or mounted using a metal chip and adhesive for walls. Such simple and tidy designs for these essential controls are rare in the market.

Versatility with Matter Compatibility

IKEA’s latest smart devices are all Matter-ready, meaning they require a hub to work. While IKEA offers its DIRIGERA hub, they can also integrate with any existing Matter-compatible hubs, in line with Matter's interoperability standards. Expect these new products to hit IKEA shelves and the online store around January.

Artistic Collaboration in the TEKLAN Collection

Apart from their pragmatic smart home solutions, IKEA launched a new line called TEKLAN, crafted with Tekla Evelina Severin, a designer and photographer. This range presents circular Bluetooth speakers with vibrant patterns and solid hues, sizing from eight to 18 inches. Additionally, there are two KULGLASS speaker lamps, adorned with glass domes mimicking soft-serve ice cream, available since the year's start.

Reimagining the Beloved VARMBLIXT Lamp

My journey led to intriguing, donut-shaped lamps, a smart twist on IKEA’s well-loved VARMBLIXT lamp launched three years back. Managed via an app or the aforementioned remote, it transitions elegantly through a myriad of colors, creating a serene ambiance. Entranced by its transformation from white through pink to red, I momentarily forgot about the overcrowded room, eventually making way for others to admire it while taking a final look at the BELÖNING snack.