Samsung SmartThings and IKEA introduce direct Matter integration featuring $6 smart bulbs with no need for an additional hub.

      In summary: Samsung SmartThings and IKEA have revealed that 25 new IKEA Matter-over-Thread devices can now link directly to a SmartThings hub without the need for IKEA’s DIRIGERA hub, with smart bulbs starting at $5.99, significantly lower than their competitors. This integration utilizes Thread border routers already present in Samsung TVs, soundbars, and appliances since 2022, meaning millions of Samsung hardware users possess the facilities for Matter devices without realizing it. The smart home market is heading toward 800 million Matter-compatible devices by the end of the year and an anticipated market worth of $537 billion by 2030.

      On Monday, Samsung SmartThings and IKEA announced that 25 of IKEA’s new smart home devices are now able to connect directly to a SmartThings hub via Matter over Thread, removing the need for IKEA’s DIRIGERA hub. While this change may seem minor, it is significant. For example, a $6 IKEA smart bulb can now integrate into the same system that operates a Samsung television, refrigerator, and washing machine, all communicating locally without relying on the cloud, and also functioning with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. The smart home has been promising interoperability for a decade, and this is a crucial step forward at an appealing price point.

      These 25 devices include IKEA’s new Matter-over-Thread range: KAJPLATS smart bulbs available in 11 variations starting at $5.99, GRILLPLATS smart plugs, scroll wheel remotes, smart buttons, a MYGGSPRAY motion sensor for $9.99, a MYGGBETT door and window sensor for $7.99, a KLIPPBOK water leak detector for $9.99, and an ALPSTUGA air quality sensor for $29.99, which detects CO2 and PM2.5 at a fraction of competitor prices. The bulbs, plugs, and remotes can connect directly to a SmartThings hub using Matter, while the sensors require a hub, either IKEA’s DIRIGERA or another third-party option. Control for blinds and shades will be introduced later this year.

      From a technical perspective, the previous setup necessitated both an IKEA DIRIGERA hub and a SmartThings hub, with the DIRIGERA acting as a Matter bridge for IKEA’s Zigbee devices and the SmartThings ecosystem. The newly launched devices utilize Matter natively over Thread, a low-power IPv6 mesh networking technology that enables direct communication with any Matter-compatible controller. Samsung and IKEA carried out several validation tests to ensure stability in connectivity and created a specific user experience in the SmartThings app for managing IKEA devices.

      The technical importance lies in the protocol stack: Matter is the application layer that outlines how devices self-identify, receive commands, and report their status. Thread is the networking layer that creates a self-healing mesh network, allowing devices to serve as routers for each other. SmartThings was the first platform to implement Thread 1.4, allowing unification of different brand networks. A SmartThings hub can either join an existing Thread network or allow a third-party border router to connect to its own, resulting in a cohesive mesh of all Thread border routers in a home, regardless of manufacturer.

      Samsung has been steadily incorporating Thread border routers into a broader array of hardware. All Samsung smart TVs from 2022 onwards, including QLED, Neo QLED, OLED, and Lifestyle models, already include one, as do their soundbars, refrigerators, and washing machines. Millions of Samsung TV owners unknowingly possess the infrastructure for Matter-over-Thread devices in their homes, without the need to purchase additional smart home products. IKEA’s $6 smart bulbs provide an affordable option for these TV owners to experiment with.

      IKEA’s pricing strategy is a key aspect of this announcement. A KAJPLATS smart bulb priced at $5.99 significantly undercuts competitors like Philips Hue Essential ($15), Nanoleaf Essentials ($12), and Aqara T2 ($15) by up to half or more. The ALPSTUGA air quality sensor at $29.99 competes with similar devices from Awair and IQAir priced over $100. IKEA aims to make smart home technology “easy to use, easy to understand, and accessible for everyone,” and its pricing strategy reflects this mission straightforwardly.

      This approach represents a comprehensive overhaul. In November 2025, IKEA introduced 21 new Matter-compatible products and committed to adopting Matter and Thread as the default smart home protocols moving forward. The DIRIGERA hub has transitioned from a Zigbee controller to a Matter bridge in September 2024, and will evolve into a full Matter controller by mid-2025, enabling it to onboard devices from other brands. IKEA is not merely adding Matter support; it is restructuring its entire smart home lineup around this framework.

      Jaeyeon Jung, executive vice president of SmartThings at Samsung, stated the partnership is focused on accessibility: