It’s no secret that I’m at all times on the hunt for dependable, reasonably priced good house gear, which regularly means turning to Ikea each time I would like a brand new distant or sensor for my house. Ikea’s low worth is definitely a significant factor, however I additionally admire the good selection and choice to regulate all the pieces domestically with out an web connection.So, I jumped on the probability to cease by Ikea’s cozy show suite on the Venetian throughout CES 2026. Since that is the corporate’s first foray into CES, I feel choosing a non-public suite relatively than a showy sales space on the primary present ground was a sensible choice to emphasise the comfortable vibes (and comfy costs) of its newest know-how.Read extra: Best of CES 2026: 22 Winners Awarded by CNET GroupWhile Ikea introduced many of those merchandise final November — together with good house sensors, good lighting and Bluetooth audio system — the house furnishings firm additionally stunned me with updates to the gorgeous Varmblixt collection of lamps and a $10 Bluetooth speaker that is not half unhealthy. Here’s all the pieces the model had on show, with a number of highlights that caught my consideration.Varmblixt enters the Matter equation You can place the Varmblixt donut lamp on a shelf or mount it on the wall — I really like the sci-fi vibe you get when stacking them. John Carlsen/CNETThe most putting components of Ikea’s CES show are the up to date Varmblixt donut and pendant lamps. Originally debuting in 2023 by a collaboration with Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis, these newest Varmblixt variations are actually appropriate with the broader Ikea Home Smart app and Matter ecosystem.While the primary iterations of the Varmblixt donut lamp boasted a set shade palette, the Varmblixt good donut lamp’s Matter capabilities help an computerized shade cycle of 12 preset colours proper out of the field utilizing the included Bilresa distant management. You may even increase it to 40 colours and entry dimming controls by linking it with Ikea’s Dirigera good house hub.During my go to, I did not assume to strive the distant with the good donut lamp to see if it solely cycles by a preset shade sample or in case you can pause it on a particular shade. My Ikea contact confirmed which you can manually cycle by the colours to search out your favourite. You do not want a Dirigera hub for this operate, solely the included distant. (The identical applies to the good pendant gentle.) I really like the three-curved gentle bars of the Varmblixt good pendant gentle, which create a comfortable ambiance that might be nice over a kitchen desk or as a modernist chandelier in a excessive atrium. John Carlsen/CNETThe Varmblixt good pendant gentle additionally options an attractive design. However, it limits its shade palette to shades of white, so you may snuggle up with a mellow, tender, heat white or lock in your focus with cool daylight — and all the pieces in between.Ikea hardly ever stands nonetheless, and has already hinted at extra good lighting merchandise on the horizon in 2027, together with extra collaborations with Marcelis. Perhaps we’ll see the remainder of the Varmblixt collection receiving Matter compatibility and even some new designs?A set of Matter-enabled gear for underneath $15 While you may hyperlink Ikea remotes and bulbs with out a hub, most Ikea good house units require a $110 Dirigera good hub to work — or unlock superior controls like scheduling and automation. John Carlsen/CNETIkea introduced its Matter-compatible good house lineup on the finish of 2025, however my go to to the model’s CES exhibit was my first time seeing many of those merchandise in motion. (I’ve been utilizing the Klippbok water-leak sensor, Timmerflotte temperature and humidity sensor, Myggbett door and window sensor since Nov. 2025.)The fast standout was the Alpstuga air high quality sensor, which screens carbon dioxide, particulate matter, temperature and humidity. You can examine the standing of your air anytime on the built-in show or within the Ikea Home Smart app. Personally, I like the choice to make use of Alpstuga as a digital clock — I’ve a ton of clocks round my house to assist with the inevitable time-blindness of ADHD. John Carlsen/CNETI additionally admire that the brand new Myggspray movement sensor is weatherproof with an IP67 score. This is large as a result of outside movement detectors are nonetheless comparatively uncommon in comparison with indoor items — and far more costly. The earlier Ikea Vallhorn movement sensor had some weatherproofing — a comparatively weak IP44 score — but it surely’s good to have a bit extra safety in inclement climate.While the costs are largely akin to the earlier lineup of Zigbee-based items, lots of the sensors are extra reasonably priced than their predecessors, which have been already among the many greatest values for good house gear:Bilresa distant management, twin button: $6 (in comparison with the $6 Rodret and $9 Somrig)Bilresa distant management, scroll wheel: $10Myggspray movement sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $9 Vallhorn)Myggbett door and window sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $10 Parasoll)Klippbok water leakage sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $9 Badring)Timmerflotte temperature and humidity sensor: $10Alpstuga air high quality sensor: $30 (in comparison with the $42 Vindstryka)The above merchandise can be found now. Ikea additionally has a choice of new good plugs and good gentle bulbs on deck for availability in April 2026:Grillplats good plug: $8Tofsmygga outside good plug: $15Kajplats good gentle bulbs: $6 to $14 (consists of numerous shade and brightness choices for traditional E26 sockets, E12 candelabra sockets and GU10 monitor lighting)Various combo packs with Kajplats bulbs and a Bilresa distant management: $10 to $24I look ahead to placing a lot of Ikea’s newest good house merchandise by their paces this 12 months. Still, I ought to be aware that the easy nature of most good sensors means there’s hardly ever a lot to say past noting their affordability and reliability.Samsung SmartIssues now helps Ikea’s newest good house merchandise While it is a provided that two Matter-compatible good house programs ought to be interoperable, having a extra formal partnership makes the method rather a lot smoother for everybody. John Carlsen/CNETAnother announcement to return out of CES is Ikea’s new partnership with Samsung SmartIssues. One of the fruits of stronger SmartIssues help is the power so as to add Ikea merchandise on to a SmartIssues hub, which generally expands performance with out requiring workarounds.For instance, I exploit a lot of Ikea’s discontinued Tradfri remotes in my SmartIssues system, however they operate in a different way than within the Ikea Home Smart app and usually require a customized third-party driver to work nicely. Getting them working is not troublesome for a veteran good house nerd, however I’m all for having a transparent setup course of that is a lot simpler for the typical particular person.According to Samsung’s weblog put up, this Ikea replace remains to be rolling out — particularly, Bilesa scroll wheel distant help. However, my SmartIssues system nonetheless has bother detecting new Matter units on the Ikea hub, regardless of the method working independently for each programs utilizing a Myggspray movement sensor. I think that these minor compatibility points will likely be resolved because the rollout progresses.Ikea’s newest Bluetooth audio system The colours on the limited-edition Solskydd Teklan audio system are particularly eye-catching, and I really like which you can take away the bottom for wall mounting. John Carlsen/CNETBluetooth audio system aren’t strictly good house merchandise, however I wished to say Ikea’s new Solskydd, Kulglass and Kallsup audio system. All three speaker designs characteristic collaborations with Ola Wihlborg, together with limited-edition designs on the Solskydd and Kulglass, created by Swedish colorist Tekla Evelina Severin (Tekla).The Solskydd speaker is available in three sizes: 8 inches ($80), 11 inches ($100) and 18 inches ($140). Notably, the 8-inch dimension is transportable with a built-in battery, whereas the 2 bigger sizes require an influence wire for operation.While the audio high quality appeared good throughout my time with the audio system, I’d want to listen to them in isolation earlier than making any definitive statements. My favourite factor of the Solskydd audio system is the wall-mounting choice, which provides them only a bit extra flexibility than different Bluetooth audio system I’ve used. The distinctive designs additionally appear to work nicely for people who need audio system that do not distract from a room’s inside design. Lastly, Ikea confirmed off the brand new $10 Kallsup transportable speaker, a colourful dice in regards to the dimension of an orange — I imply, if oranges have been cubes. John Carlsen/CNETI actually like the brilliant inexperienced shade choice, and my demo unit produces surprisingly nice audio high quality for a $10 speaker. For comparability, I examined an affordable $8 speaker from Five Below, which carried out a lot worse at most quantity. That stated, you should not anticipate audiophile high quality, notably by way of bass, however the midtones and treble sound excellent.Interestingly, you may hyperlink a number of Kallsup audio system collectively. Sara Ottosson, senior product developer for Ikea, stated the group examined this operate with as much as 100 audio system, however hinted at probably including greater than that. I’m skeptical in regards to the practicality of operating 100 Kallsup audio system directly, however even having 4 or 5 linked units might change the sport for a small indoor celebration. (It is not waterproof just like the $16 Vappeby, which launched in 2023.)Although the Solskydd and Kulglass audio system can be found now, you will have to attend till April for the Kallsup.
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