Ikea tried to build a smart home for everyone — here’s why it’s not working yet
Ikea tried to build a smart home for everyone — here’s why it’s not working yet

Ikea’s new Matter-over-Thread products were supposed to prove that the smart home could be cheap, accessible, and reliable. The highly anticipated line – which includes sensors, remotes, smart plugs, air-quality monitors, and smart bulbs – has most everything you need to build a smart home, with prices starting at $6. It’s an exciting idea, but […]

Hands on with Aqara’s new Matter-compatible camera
Hands on with Aqara’s new Matter-compatible camera

The first Matter camera is here – sort of. Camera support came to the smart home standard last year, and Aqara’s Camera Hub G350 is the first to support it. The G350, which was announced at CES, launched this week and is a pan-and-tilt indoor security camera with up to 4K video resolution. Today, the […]

Ikea’s Matter-compatible smart bulbs are now available in the US
Ikea’s Matter-compatible smart bulbs are now available in the US

After being announced last November, Ikea’s Matter-compatible smart home collection has been slowly trickling into its stores around the world over the past few months. Despite some early connectivity issues, one of the most anticipated items in that collection is Ikea’s new Matter-over-Thread smart bulbs. The company originally said they’d hit the US sometime in […]

Samsung just made losing your house keys less stressful

Samsung launched Digital Home Key for Wallet, letting Galaxy owners unlock compatible deadbolts with their phones. Lose the device? Kill the key remotely via Samsung Find.
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Ikea’s cheap new smart home gear is struggling to get connected
Ikea’s cheap new smart home gear is struggling to get connected

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks trying – and mostly failing – to test Ikea’s new Matter-over-Thread gear. These highly anticipated smart home devices include programmable buttons, smart bulbs, plugs, and temperature and motion sensors – all of which should work with any smart home platform and start at just $6. But I’ve hit […]

I’ve tested 30 smart locks, and these are the best
I’ve tested 30 smart locks, and these are the best

A smart lock is an easy solution to some common problems. Locked yourself out? Need to let a friend in to water the plants? Your latchkey kid lost their key? Hands are full, and it’s raining cats and dogs? A smart lock solves all of these problems and more. One of the best smart home […]

Ikea is expanding its Matter support to two stylish lamps
Ikea is expanding its Matter support to two stylish lamps

After debuting 21 new Matter-compatible smart home devices last November, Ikea is expanding Matter support to some of its existing home furnishings starting with two upgraded lamps at CES 2026. The Varmblixt donut lamp is getting a small redesign to complement its new color-changing smart home capabilities, while the new Varmblixt pendant lamp will let […]