Tag: smart home products

  • IKEA Reveals Prices for New Matter-Compatible Smart Home Devices

    IKEA Reveals Prices for New Matter-Compatible Smart Home Devices

    Key Takeaways

    1. IKEA will launch new Matter-compatible smart home devices in Europe on January 1, 2026, with some products releasing later.
    2. The Alpstuga Air quality sensor will be the most expensive at €30, while other sensors will range from €8 to €10.
    3. The new Kajplats smart bulbs will cost between €5 and €13, with various options available.
    4. Two new IKEA remote controls will be introduced, with the dual button priced at €9, while the price for the scroll wheel version is unconfirmed.
    5. All upcoming products will be compatible with the Matter protocol, allowing integration with different smart home ecosystems.


    The pricing of the new Matter-compatible IKEA products has been disclosed for another region. The company first introduced this range in July 2025, with more details shared in early November 2025.

    Price Details Unveiled

    In a recent post, the Dutch blog Tweakers has shared the prices of several new IKEA smart home devices in the EU market. According to the blog, this information was verified by an IKEA representative. Most of these devices are expected to launch in Europe on January 1st, 2026, except for two smart plug products which will be released at a later, yet-to-be-determined date.

    Upcoming Smart Sensors

    IKEA plans to launch a range of smart home sensors in January. The priciest among these is the Alpstuga Air quality sensor, which is projected to cost €30. The Klippbok Water leakage sensor and Myggspray Motion sensor are anticipated to retail for €9 each. Meanwhile, the Myggbett Door/window sensor will be priced at €8, and the Timmerflotte Temperature and humidity sensor will come in at €10.

    Smart Bulbs and Remote Controls

    Additionally, IKEA is set to introduce a collection of Kajplats smart bulbs. This series starts at €5 for the E27 white spectrum (470 lumens) globe bulb and goes up to €13 for the Kajplats E27 color+white spectrum (1055 lumens) globe bulb. There will also be GU10 spotlight bulbs and E14 bulbs available, along with various starter kits. Two new IKEA Bilresa remote controls are on the way: one featuring a dual button and another equipped with a scroll wheel. The dual button remote will be priced at €9, but the price for the scroll wheel version remains unconfirmed. Lastly, the IKEA Grillplats Smart plug will be sold for €9, while a kit that includes a remote control will retail for €13.

    Compatibility with Smart Home Ecosystems

    It’s important to note that all these upcoming IKEA smart home products will be compatible with the Matter protocol, enabling them to work seamlessly with various smart home ecosystems. Below, you can find a few tables outlining the rumored UK prices alongside the confirmed EU prices for these new IKEA products.

     

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  • Philips Hue Festavia Outdoor String Lights Leak Issue Explained

    Philips Hue Festavia Outdoor String Lights Leak Issue Explained

    Key Takeaways

    1. Philips Hue accidentally revealed the Festavia Permanent Lights, designed for outdoor use and suitable for year-round installation.
    2. The lights feature multiple round lights on a flat cable, offering both white and colored lighting effects, but details on brightness and specifications are not confirmed.
    3. Control options are expected to include app management and voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
    4. The official announcement for the Festavia Permanent Lights is anticipated at IFA 2025 in September.
    5. Pricing and release date for the new lights remain unknown, with a reference price of $199.95 for a similar older product.


    In a recent slip-up, Philips Hue has unintentionally revealed the Festavia Permanent Lights. These lights briefly showed up on the brand’s website along with other upcoming smart home gadgets like the Hue Bridge Pro and the Gradient Strip Lights.

    Designed for Outdoors

    Philips Hue mentions that the Festavia Permanent Lights are meant for outdoor use. They can be installed on walls, along rooflines, or even around windows. Although they are marketed as suitable for ‘year-round’ use, details on their IP weatherproof rating or operating temperature range remain unknown.

    Light Features and Control

    A leaked picture of the Philips Hue Festavia Permanent Lights displays several round lights attached to a flat cable. They are expected to provide both white and colored lighting effects, possibly with dimming capabilities. The company also asserts that the lights are bright, but they haven’t provided any data to support this claim. Details like the length of the string, number of lights, and their maximum brightness have not been confirmed yet. Based on other Philips Hue products, it’s very likely that these lights will be manageable through the brand’s app, with optional voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

    Upcoming Announcement

    The Philips Hue Festavia Permanent Lights are predicted to be officially revealed at IFA 2025, happening this September. The exact release date and pricing for these smart lights remain a mystery. For reference, an older set of Festavia String Lights featuring 250 LEDs on a 65 ft cable is priced at $241.99 (currently $199.95 on Amazon).

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  • IKEA and Best Buy Unveil Exciting New Retail Experience Soon

    IKEA and Best Buy Unveil Exciting New Retail Experience Soon

    Key Takeaways

    1. IKEA and Best Buy are collaborating to enhance shopping experiences for kitchens and laundry areas in the U.S.
    2. The shop-in-shop concept allows Best Buy customers to explore IKEA furniture alongside appliances in select locations.
    3. This initiative is the first of its kind for IKEA in the U.S., featuring specialized assistance from both companies.
    4. The IKEA shop-in-shop will debut at ten locations in Florida and Texas, starting later this year.
    5. Customers can pick up IKEA products ordered online or in-store at specific locations in Lakeland, Florida, and Alamo Ranch, Texas.


    IKEA and Best Buy are teaming up to create a new shopping experience for customers in the United States. The Swedish furniture giant stated that this initiative is designed to help shoppers easily put together their dream kitchens and laundry areas, taking into account both furniture and appliances.

    Shop-in-Shop Experience

    The IKEA shop-in-shop concept will let Best Buy shoppers explore IKEA furniture at select locations. According to the announcement, customers will have the chance to visualize how an oven or television might fit into an IKEA kitchen, or how a washing machine could complement one of the brand’s storage solutions. This could also serve as a great chance for shoppers to think about incorporating smart home technology into these spaces, such as robot vacuums or smart lighting options.

    First of Its Kind

    This is reportedly the first of its kind for IKEA shoppers in the US. Each of these areas will be approximately 1,000 ft² (~93 m²), with specialists from both IKEA and Best Buy available to assist customers in finding the perfect kitchen, laundry, or storage options that suit their needs.

    The IKEA shop-in-shop at Best Buy is set to debut later this year at ten locations in Florida and Texas (listed below). Additionally, customers at the stores in Lakeland, Florida, and Alamo Ranch, Texas, will have the ability to pick up IKEA products they ordered either in store or through IKEA.com. The specific launch dates for each location are not yet disclosed, and it remains uncertain if this concept will expand to other states down the road.

    Source:
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  • Xiaomi Launches Mijia Robot Vacuum Mop M40: Features & Specs

    Xiaomi Launches Mijia Robot Vacuum Mop M40: Features & Specs

    The Xiaomi Mijia Robot Vacuum Mop M40 has been officially unveiled in China. Although the product has been up for sale for several weeks, it was highlighted during the Redmi K80 smartphone launch event, which focused on smart home devices.

    Suction Power and Features

    The Mijia Robot Vacuum M40 boasts what is described as “hurricane suction,” delivering up to 12,000Pa of suction power. While this is impressive for a robot vacuum, it is still less powerful than the Roborock Qrevo Curv, which has a suction power of 18,000Pa. This Xiaomi model is equipped with dual arms for both sweeping and mopping, allowing it to clean very close to room edges. Additionally, it includes a real-time hair-cutting tool designed to prevent tangles in the roller brush. The robot also comes with a smart docking station that can wash and dry the mop at high temperatures, as well as empty and refill the onboard dustbin and water tanks. Users have the option to connect the dock to their home plumbing system with the Water Supply and Discharge Set.

    Pricing and Availability

    Currently, the Xiaomi Mijia Robot Vacuum Mop M40 is priced at CNY 2,999 (~$414) in China. There’s also a version that includes the Water Supply and Discharge Set, which costs CNY 3,599 (~$496). It remains uncertain if this model will be available in other regions, like Europe, where Xiaomi already offers products such as the Robot Vacuum X20+, which can be found on Amazon Germany for €359.

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