Ikea’s new 2026 smart home<\/span><\/span> and home security devices<\/span><\/span> quickly earned several spots on my recommendation lists, thanks to their high affordability<\/span><\/span> (many around $10) and full compatibility with the cross-brand smart home standard Matter<\/span><\/span>. The big caveat was that you needed a Matter hub, like an Apple TV<\/span><\/span> or an Echo Show<\/span><\/span>, to use the devices. Now that step has gotten easier with Samsung’s latest SmartThings expansion, announced on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previously, you needed Ikea’s own Dirigera hub, around $110, and a SmartThings hub from Samsung<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to get Ikea’s devices to work in the SmartThings app. Now you just need a compatible SmartThings hub, and it can support Ikea’s Matter devices, which total around 25.<\/p>\n Those devices include smart plugs<\/span><\/span>, access sensors for doors, motion detectors, temperature and air quality sensors, smart bulbs and lamps<\/span><\/span> and plenty more to experiment with. The low costs make Ikea an especially good choice for affordable smart home add-ons in apartments, dorms and first homes, with speedy setup, thanks to the Matter support.<\/p>\n <\/div> You’ll need a dedicated Matter hub from SmartThings or another platform to use Ikea’s devices.<\/p>\n <\/span> Samsung<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n If that sounds interesting, there’s an important catch you should understand. Your Galaxy phone or similar mobile device can’t act as a SmartThings hub on its own. Instead, you’ll need a separate hub, like Samsung’s $130 Aeotec to get Ikea devices to work smoothly with SmartThings.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I contacted Samsung, their spokesperson provided me with a handy list of other SmartThings hubs that could work and save you some money. “Your Samsung TV, Smart Monitor, Family Hub refrigerator, or Sound Bar could already be a smart home hub, ready to connect and control devices without the need to buy and set up another device,” Samsung told me. “For those who prefer a standalone hub, some other options include the SmartThings Station, the Aeotec Smart Home Hub, the Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2, and the SmartThings Hub V2.”<\/p>\n That’s good news if you’re already a fan of SmartThings and have a hub ready to go, but it’s a pretty expensive investment if not. Keep in mind, Ikea’s Matter devices work with other hubs provided by Amazon Alexa\/Echo, Apple’s HomePod<\/span><\/span> and new Apple TVs, Google’s Nest hubs<\/span><\/span> and so on. If you have any of these devices around your home, Ikea’s sensors are still a great way to save while adopting home tech.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n