Despite IKEA's new smart home sensors being designed to "plug in and just work," it turns out they have specific, confusing hub requirements.
The editorial team reports that these inexpensive devices may not be as straightforward as IKEA promised.
Recently, IKEA introduced a line of excellent smart home sensors. I got a brief look at the line at CES and received information from an IKEA representative. He was trying to emphasize how simple, accessible, and affordable the new additions were. When I brought them home, everything seemed promising. IKEA had emphasized that the line was designed to "just work out of the box," offering basic functionality without needing to download an app first. This was true for my Timmerflotte temperature sensor – I was able to put in a couple of batteries, flip a hidden switch to change from Fahrenheit to Celsius, and immediately see the temperature and humidity on the display. I then decided to explore the additional functionality more deeply and started running into problems. I downloaded the IKEA Home Smart app, tried to connect my Timmerflotte, and it couldn't find it. After repeated attempts, I failed.
One of my team members suggested I might need the IKEA Dirigera home hub, so I investigated the product page for confirmation. It stated: "This smart product uses the universal Matter standard, making it easy to set up, manage, and add to the DIRIGERA hub and other recognized systems." So far, unclear. I contacted my IKEA contact for a more precise answer. I finally received the following response from the technical team: "The problem is likely that you do not have a Thread Border Router. All new IKEA sensors (including TIMMERFLOTTE and BILRESA) use Thread over Matter, which requires a Thread Border Router to connect. Without an active one on the network, the setup will not be completed. DIRIGERA includes a Thread Border Router, and hubs from other brands may also work if they support Thread over Matter. IKEA does not maintain an official compatibility list of who these are, but we recommend using DIRIGERA." IKEA has since updated the product listing page, writing, "This product uses Thread over Matter, which means you need a Thread Border Router to control it via your phone, for example, our DIRIGERA hub."
Disappointing developments. At least I'm glad IKEA is making the requirements clearer on the product pages, but overall the situation is still disappointing for a few reasons. First, the requirement of a hub at all, and that IKEA didn't need to make it really clear on the product pages. One of the main selling points of these sensors is their low cost, with most of the line under $10/£10. This budget-friendly price becomes a little less affordable when you consider the Dirigera hub, which costs $109/£60. At that price, you have to consider whether you want to get into the whole ecosystem – it's not worth it if it only powers a couple of inexpensive temperature sensors.
Second, IKEA doesn't clarify which alternative smart home hubs the sensors will work with, and it's difficult to figure out for yourself. The brand emphasizes that these devices should integrate seamlessly into any smart home ecosystem, given that they are already Matter-compatible, but the reality seems more complex. I received a message from a customer who managed to connect a Timmerflotte via another Matter-compatible hub, but it wasn't easy and took several attempts. IKEA's FAQ section on the subject isn't entirely helpful either: Do I already have a smart home system from another brand, can I use smart products from IKEA with it? With the DIRIGERA hub, the IKEA Home smart app can guide you in connecting to Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. What's particularly ironic is the comment made by David Granath, IKEA's Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics, in the context of adding Matter compatibility to the new line. "It removes one of the biggest barriers to getting started with the smart home," he said. "People don't want to research standards or ecosystems, worry about which products work with which hubs. They want things to plug in and just work." Were you able to connect one of the new sensors to an alternative smart home hub? Leave a note in the comments section, and I'll update this article with new information. Alternatively, if you're looking to get into the IKEA smart home ecosystem, you can find the best prices for the Dirigera smart hub below. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as your preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to hit the follow button! And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video format, and you can also get regular updates from us on WhatsApp.
Ruth HamiltonHome EditorRuth is the Home Editor at TechRadar, specializing in air (vacuums, fans, air purifiers) and hair (hair dryers, straighteners, and stylers). She has been in the consumer journalism space since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and health devices, and has worked for Tom's Guide and T3.