IKEA's new Matter-compatible smart bulbs offer good value but require a hub
By
Tim Brookes
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
IKEA has released new smart bulbs that support the Matter protocol, making them more affordable and interoperable with smart home ecosystems like Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. However, the article notes a significant drawback: the bulbs require a Dirigera hub to function, which adds cost and complexity for users who want a simple, hub-free smart lighting setup. The review highlights the bulbs' good light quality, ease of setup, and competitive pricing, but criticizes the mandatory hub requirement as a barrier to entry.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe new bulbs are great, except for one thing: they still require a hub.
For the price, these are some of the best smart bulbs you can buy right now.
Matter support means they work with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa out of the box.
The Dirigera hub is an extra expense that not everyone will want to deal with.
If you're already in the IKEA smart home ecosystem, these bulbs are a no-brainer.
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