Imagine spending hours trying to connect your new smart home gadgets, only to be met with frustration and failure. That’s the reality for many who’ve recently purchased Ikea’s affordable Matter-over-Thread devices. Over the past few weeks, I’ve embarked on a journey to test these highly anticipated smart home products—programmable buttons, smart bulbs, plugs, and sensors—all priced as low as $6 and promised to work seamlessly with any major smart home platform. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite their potential, these devices are proving notoriously difficult to connect, leaving many users, including myself, scratching their heads.
My experience isn’t an isolated case. The Tradfri subreddit is flooded with Ikea customers venting their frustrations, and reviews on Ikea’s website echo similar complaints. Even colleagues at The Verge have encountered the same roadblocks. Out of six devices I attempted to connect, only two succeeded—and even those required multiple tries. For instance, it took me seven attempts to pair a Kajplats smart lightbulb with Apple Home, while an Alpstuga IAQ monitor refused to work with Apple Home but eventually connected to Home Assistant. A Bilresa smart button initially paired with Amazon Alexa, only to disconnect later and refuse to re-pair. Meanwhile, the Timmerflotte temperature sensor and Myggspray motion sensor flat-out rejected every connection attempt, even with Ikea’s own Dirigera hub.
But here’s the part most people miss: While some users have had no issues, the sheer volume of complaints on forums and user reports suggests this isn’t just a matter of individual network complexities. One Reddit user’s experience is particularly eye-opening: out of 60 Bilresa buttons they tried to pair, only 31 succeeded—a mere 52% success rate. And the problems don’t end with setup; some users are now reporting devices disconnecting after being paired, raising questions about long-term reliability.
These devices mark Ikea’s first foray into Matter-over-Thread technology, a shift from their previous Zigbee-based Tradfri line. Matter’s promise is interoperability—devices should connect directly to platforms like Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Samsung SmartThings without needing a hub or cloud connection. Its multi-admin feature even allows devices to connect to multiple platforms simultaneously. Yet, as I’ve discovered, even connecting to a single platform feels like a victory.
When I reached out to Ikea, David Granath, the range manager for smart home, acknowledged the issues. ‘We take this very seriously,’ he said, emphasizing that a dedicated team is working with ecosystem partners and the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) to address the concerns. While troubleshooting tips are available, the root cause remains unclear. Is it Ikea’s implementation of the Matter spec? Compatibility issues with specific platforms? Or a flaw in the Matter spec itself? This is where it gets controversial: Could this be a sign that Matter, despite its promise, isn’t quite ready for prime time?
The rollout of new technology is rarely smooth, and smart home ecosystems are notoriously complex. However, the scale of these issues suggests a systemic problem rather than user error. Ikea, the CSA, and platform makers must act swiftly to restore confidence in Matter’s potential. After all, these devices were meant to be a breakthrough for the smart home market, proving that interoperability could finally work for everyone. Instead, they’ve become a stark reminder that the biggest challenge in smart home tech remains simply getting devices to work.
What do you think? Is this just growing pains for Matter, or a deeper issue with the technology itself? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a discussion!
