IKEA Abandons Zigbee for Matter
IKEA is ditching Zigbee for Matter, and frankly, it’s about time. The Swedish furniture giant plans to launch over 20 new smart home devices using the Matter protocol in January 2026. Finally, someone’s making sense in the smart home chaos.
IKEA’s finally embracing Matter protocol for smart home devices, bringing much-needed sanity to the fragmented ecosystem.
The transition means IKEA‘s new devices will use Thread technology instead of Zigbee. Thread promises faster response times, improved mesh networking, and higher reliability. Sounds too good to be true? Maybe. But anything’s better than the current smart home mess where nothing talks to anything else properly.
Here’s the kicker though. IKEA isn’t completely abandoning existing customers. The company’s keeping Touchlink functionality in new Matter devices so older Zigbee remotes still work. Smart move, considering how many people already own their stuff.
The Dirigera hub becomes the star of this transition show. A software update transforms it into a Matter controller while keeping it as a bridge for existing Zigbee devices. It’s getting Thread Border Router functionality too, which should promote network stability and device reach.
The catch? You’ll need to manually enable Matter controller features initially since it’s still in beta testing.
IKEA’s move aligns with the broader industry push toward Matter standardization. Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystems will all play nice with these new devices. The local communication capability allows devices to function without constant internet connection, reducing dependency on cloud services. Groundbreaking? Not really. Overdue? Absolutely.
The real winner here is interoperability. New Matter devices work with third-party systems while existing Zigbee lights, blinds, air purifiers, and sensors keep functioning through the updated Dirigera hub. No forced obsolescence means customers can transition at their own pace.
This shift puts pressure on companies like Aqara to step up their Matter game. Thread technology offers wider device type support and cross-brand compatibility that Zigbee simply can’t match. Software updates guarantee legacy devices won’t become expensive paperweights.
The updated IKEA Home Smart app handles both Matter and Zigbee devices through one interface. Improved energy reporting and device control capabilities are rolling out too. IKEA’s also expanding beyond smart home automation with two new Bluetooth speakers featuring Spotify Tap functionality.
Markets with high tech adoption rates like the US and China should see the biggest impact from this standardization push. The extensive device support enables low-power communications across numerous smart home applications while maintaining reliable mesh networking.
