Opinion: IKEA’s Matter Devices Are Great, But Product Information Is Confusing
IKEA deserves real credit for what it has been doing with its latest generation of smart home products. The company has quietly built one of the most affordable smart home devices on the market with its new devices that support Matter over Thread.
From the new cheap BILRESA is a smart remote control for it KAJPLATS smart lights, IKEA’s latest lineup shows a company that understands exactly where the smart home industry is headed. The hardware is well designed, the prices are always very competitive, and based on my experiencethe performance has been much better compared to previous generations of IKEA smart products.
IKEA’s new smart home devices are built on technology that many in the industry see as the future of the smart home. Matter provides cross-platform compatibility, while Thread offers faster response times and a more reliable mesh network compared to traditional WiFi-based devices. This means that products like IKEA’s latest smart plugs and lighting can work across multiple ecosystems including Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings without needing to be locked into one place.
For Apple Home users in particular, when paired with a Thread Border Router such as HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K, these devices can connect directly to the home network and have fast response times and excellent reliability. Although it is worth pointing out that this is not the same for all users, but I am still of the firm belief that this is partly for users of Thread Networks, rather than just staying with IKEA.
However, there is one area where IKEA still fails, and unfortunately an issue that may confuse or discourage new customers and that is clear information and documentation.
Clarity
Based on testing and installing more than a dozen of the new IKEA Matter devices, it is clear that IKEA has not received product information and documentation yet. One of the biggest areas of confusion is how these devices actually connect and what you need to use them for. All the new products just say “Matter” on the box, but nothing clearly explains how it connects to your home network. The same problem occurs with product pages on the Internet. I recently reviewed VARMBLIXT and the documentation for this device was in the style of its flatpack products, which would not be useful for a first time buyer.
For someone who already understands smart home technology, it’s easy to find things. But for someone walking into an IKEA store for the first time and picking up a smart device, the information provided is often vague or incomplete. Important information missing is how these devices work in practice. Most of them use Matter over Thread, which means they need a Thread Border Router somewhere in the home. A new customer can easily assume that the device will connect directly to their phone or WiFi network, which is how other consumer devices work.
Every IKEA brand is built around accessibility and convenience. People tend to walk into a store, pick up a product, take it home, build or install it with specific instructions. IKEA has built a multi-billion pound business on making things simple and accessible. Smart home technology, however, comes with a few extra pieces of the puzzle. Concepts like Thread Border Routers, Matter compatibility, and smart home ecosystems are not things that the average customer knows.
I actually saw this play in a store recently. A couple was looking at some of the smart home devices and asked a member of staff how they worked. To treat him well, he did his best to explain it, but he kept repeating that these machines “work with Matter.” The problem is that saying something related to Matter means nothing to most people who go into the furniture and home improvement store. It’s a technical standard, not something the average customer understands.
IKEA actually has a huge opportunity.
It’s been almost a year now and I’ve been saying that the smart home industry has yet to reach mass adoption. Currently, most markets are still made up of tech enthusiasts who enjoy testing new devices and building their own smart homes. That doesn’t mean people don’t have skill sets. I have over 100 devices running in my Apple Home setup. But when I talk to friends and family, most people have one or two smart devices, and many don’t.
This is where IKEA can play a big role. They have a large global customer base and the ability to introduce smart home technology to a much wider audience. But with the current way of defining these products, the barrier to entry is still very high. If the average customer can’t immediately understand what they need or why it’s beneficial to them, they probably won’t take that first step.
An Easy Fix at IKEA
The good news is that this is not a hardware problem. It’s a communication problem and can be easily fixed with a few simple improvements that can make a big difference:
- Clear packaging that clearly explains what is required to use the product
- Better explanations on product pages about Matter, Thread, and hub requirements
- Beginner-friendly setup guides for various ecosystems like Apple Home
- Invest heavily in staff training and understanding of Matter and smart home standards.
These changes will help remove uncertainty for new consumers and make IKEA’s smart home products more affordable.
IKEA is now producing smart devices that are more efficient in the home. The combination of great design, solid performance, and aggressive pricing make them some of the most affordable Matter devices on the market. But without clear documentation, many customers may struggle to understand how everything fits together.
If IKEA can get that last part right, it could become one of the most important players in the consumer smart home space.
