Samsung links IKEA devices to SmartThings

Samsung said on April 21 that SmartThings can now connect directly to 25 IKEA Matter-over-Thread devices without IKEA’s DIRIGERA hub. (news.samsung.com) The supported IKEA range includes smart bulbs, plugs, sensors and remotes built on Matter-over-Thread, a standard meant to let devices from different brands work together. (news.samsung.com) (engadget.com) Matter is the shared language, and Thread is the low-power mesh network underneath it, so a light bulb can join a home network through a nearby hub instead of a brand-specific bridge. (gsmarena.com) (engadget.com) In this case, Samsung said SmartThings hubs can add IKEA’s devices directly, cutting out the extra pairing step that previously pushed many mixed-brand setups through multiple hubs. (news.samsung.com) (uk.news.yahoo.com) Samsung tied the rollout to IKEA’s lower-priced hardware. Third-party coverage of the launch highlighted bulbs starting at $5.99 and sensors priced below $10 in the new lineup. (thenextweb.com) (sg.news.yahoo.com)) The companies had already signaled closer work in January 2026, when Samsung said it would support IKEA’s adoption of Matter to simplify setup across brands. (uk.news.yahoo.com) (benchmark.rs) Samsung also said many of its own products already act as SmartThings hubs or Thread border routers, including some TVs, Family Hub refrigerators, smart monitors and soundbars. (news.samsung.com) That means the pitch is not just new device support. It is that some Samsung customers may already own the hardware needed to bring IKEA’s new accessories onto a SmartThings network. (news.samsung.com) (thenextweb.com) The announcement is one more test of whether Matter can reduce the brand lock-in that has defined smart homes for years. Samsung and IKEA are now putting that promise in front of shoppers buying low-cost lights, plugs and sensors. (engadget.com) (news.samsung.com)