IKEA’s Smart Home Push Faces Early Google Home Compatibility Issues
IKEA made its debut at CES this year showcasing an expanding range of affordable smart home technology, but early user feedback reveals a snag for those integrated with the Google Home ecosystem.
IKEA announced a new wave of smart home products late last year, all built around the Matter connectivity standard.A key selling point is their accessibility, with prices starting as low as $8, and broad compatibility across various smart home platforms.
During demonstrations at CES, the new devices performed reliably, even amidst the challenging network conditions typical of a large trade show. Lights responded quickly, and the physical design of controls – particularly the buttons and scroll wheels on the “BILRESA” remotes – received positive impressions. “In person, they work super well,” one attendee noted.
though, a compatibility issue has emerged with Google Home. Reports from commenters and users on Reddit indicate that while the IKEA devices connect to Google Home, the system doesn’t fully recognize or support the functionality of certain devices, specifically the buttons. They connect, but Google Home is unable to interpret their commands.
Why is this happening? The issue stems from incomplete recognition of device functionality within the Google Home ecosystem. Who is affected? Users attempting to control IKEA’s new Matter-enabled devices, particularly those with buttons, via Google Home are experiencing problems. what is the problem? Google home connects to the devices but doesn’t register button commands. How did it end? IKEA anticipates a software update will resolve the issue, allowing full functionality. For now, the devices work within the IKEA app and other compatible systems.
IKEA anticipates resolving this issue through software updates. For the time being, the devices will continue to function within the IKEA app and other compatible smart home ecosystems. Other IKEA smart home products, including the smart plug, door/window sensor, and existing lighting solutions, are reported to integrate seamlessly with Google Home. The company is also expanding Matter support to popular lighting options like the “VARMBLIXT” light – a donut-shaped fixture – enabling control over brightness and color.
beyond lighting, audio is a growing focus for IKEA. The company offers Bluetooth speakers with unique designs and multi-speaker pairing capabilities. A new addition, the “KALLSUP” speaker, is slated for release soon with a price point of just $10.
This battery-powered, cube-shaped speaker mirrors the connectivity of IKEA’s higher-end models, linking to smartphones via Bluetooth and then pairing with other speakers to create a wireless chain. This pairing utilizes a direct wireless connection, differing from standards like Auracast. While this approach limits compatibility with non-IKEA brands, it offers a streamlined and rapid connection process, taking only seconds to establish. While the sound quality isn’t groundbreaking, it’s considered impressive for its price. “The sound quality isn’t anything impressive, but it’s quite good for a $10 speaker,” a reviewer commented.
The IKEA “KALLSUP” speaker and “VARMBLIXT” lights will both launch in the US this april. IKEA’s Matter-enabled products are currently availab
