Why IKEA’s Matter over Thread Smart Home Range Matters
I’ve been running a smart home for a long time and one lesson keeps repeating itself, cheap smart home gear is often the most expensive in the long run. Wi-Fi dropouts, flaky apps, short battery life, and cloud dependencies all add friction. That’s why IKEA Matter over Thread smart home move from Zigby matters. Not because it’s flashy, but because it makes smart home basics affordable while improving reliability at the same time.
I’m already using the two-button remotes and the water leak sensor in my Apple Home setup, and they’ve been quietly excellent.
IKEA Smart Home Pricing: Buttons, Sensors, and Bulbs from £3
Until recently, even budget smart home accessories tended to start around £15 and go up quickly. Buttons, sensors, and motion detectors added up fast once you tried to cover an entire house.
IKEA changes that completely.
- Two-button remote: £3
- Water leak sensor: £7
- Motion sensor: £7
- Full-colour E27 Matter over Thread bulb: £9
These are not promotional prices. That’s simply what they cost.
At this level, you stop rationing automations and start putting controls where they actually make sense.
Using IKEA Matter Devices with Apple Home and Thread Networks
I didn’t need to buy anything extra to make this work. I already have HomePods, HomePod Minis, and Apple TVs throughout the house, all acting as Thread border routers.
That means:
- No IKEA hub required for me
- Devices join the network instantly
- Everything runs locally in Apple Home
If you are not in Apple’s ecosystem, newer Alexa devices also support Thread, and some Wi-Fi systems such as Eero can provide a Thread network too.
If you do not already have a Thread network, IKEA still has you covered with their own hub.
IKEA Smart Button with Apple Home: A £3 Remote That Just Works
The two-button remote is exactly what I want smart home controls to be. Physical buttons, clear clicks, and instant response.
In Apple Home, each button supports:
- Single press
- Double press
- Long press
That gives six actions per remote, all configured in Apple Home. No IKEA app needed once it’s paired.
For me, this works far better than voice commands or apps. I can place them conveniently around the house and rely on muscle memory. At £3, they are almost impossible to argue with.
IKEA Water Leak Sensor with Matter: £7 Peace of Mind
At £7, the water leak sensor feels almost disposable, but it doesn’t behave like that.
It integrates directly into Apple Home via Matter, sends instant alerts, and works locally. No cloud account, no subscription, and no delays.
I have one next to the robot mop vacuum, and I will be adding more.
IKEA Matter over Thread Light Bulbs That Expand Your Smart Home Network
IKEA’s Matter over Thread light bulbs are not just about lighting. Any mains-powered Thread device helps extend the mesh network, so bulbs actively improve coverage.
The standout is the £9 full-colour E27 bulb. I have not picked any up yet, but I will.
We already have a lot of Philips Hue bulbs. They are robust and reliable, but they are also very expensive, even when discounted. IKEA’s bulbs will not replace Hue everywhere, but for secondary rooms and lamps, the value is obvious.
IKEA Motion Sensor with Matter: Cheap, Capable, and Slightly More Complex
IKEA also has a motion sensor in the range. It is inexpensive and rated for outdoor use, which is impressive at the price.
However, using its lux sensor properly depends on your smart home platform. The logic lives in Apple Home or Alexa rather than on the sensor itself. That makes setup more complicated than Philips Hue motion sensors, which handle light and motion locally.
That said, IKEA’s sensor costs around a fifth of the price of a Hue motion sensor, so the extra setup effort feels reasonable.
Why IKEA Is Changing the Cost of Matter Smart Homes
What IKEA is doing here is not about features. It is about removing friction.
- Hardware is cheap enough to deploy everywhere
- Matter avoids lock-in
- Thread delivers speed and reliability
- Physical controls beat apps
This is the first time in a long while that smart home tech feels both affordable and practical.
Final Takeaway
A £3 remote and a £7 water leak sensor that work reliably inside Apple Home would have sounded unrealistic a few years ago.
IKEA’s Matter over Thread range shows that smart homes do not need to be expensive or complicated. If IKEA keeps pushing in this direction, smart homes stop being a premium hobby and start becoming normal household infrastructure.
That shift is long overdue.
Read the Ikea Announcement about the New Matter over Thread range
Tell me what you think in the comments below or on X @timdixon82
