Ikea is making a significant entry into the smart home market in 2026 with affordable and stylish lighting, security sensors, and smart plugs, expanding beyond its traditional furniture offerings. The new products, including app-controlled lights and budget-friendly security sensors, could position Ikea as a major player in home automation, especially for first-time buyers seeking cost-effective solutions.
Govee unveiled innovative smart ceiling lights at CES 2026, including the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra with a 616-pixel LED matrix and high brightness, capable of transforming ceilings into dynamic art displays or realistic skylights, enhanced by customizable visuals and the Lighting Bot 2.0 software, though pricing and release details are not yet available.
Lifx announced new products at CES, including a Matter-enabled smart mirror with customizable lighting and control buttons, a $30 in-wall dimmer switch supporting Matter, and a lower-cost line of smart bulbs and light strips. The company plans to upgrade existing devices to support Matter-over-Thread later this year, offering users flexible connectivity options and enhanced smart home integration.
IKEA has announced 21 new Matter-compatible smart home gadgets, including smart bulbs, window/door sensors, and water leakage sensors, designed to be affordable and easily integrated with existing smart home systems. The products are set to be available in the US by January 2026, offering versatile and budget-friendly options for enhancing home automation.
Govee has launched an affordable RGBIC floor lamp priced at $64, offering advanced independent control of multiple colors, high brightness, and smart features like app control, voice commands, and music sync, all without needing a hub, making it a cost-effective alternative to more expensive smart lighting systems like Philips Hue.
The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is a versatile, high-quality smart light that offers vibrant colors and easy setup, ideal for decorative lighting and mood enhancement, but its high cost and limited precision make it less suitable as an effective TV backlight for most users.
A Govee TV backlight system, praised for its easy setup and immersive lighting effects, enhances viewing experiences by extending the visual ambiance, making it feel like being at a live show, and seamlessly integrates with other Govee products via an app, available for around $70.
Signify announced new Philips Hue products including the upgraded Hue Bridge Pro supporting more lights and features like Motion Aware, new affordable light bulbs, updated outdoor string lights, and new Hue Secure devices such as a video doorbell and smart chime, with availability starting in September and October 2025.
Philips introduces a budget-friendly line of Hue bulbs with improved dimming and color range, along with the new Hue Bridge Pro supporting more devices, and additional smart lighting products including strip lights, outdoor lights, and a video doorbell, with phased launches across North America.
Govee has introduced the TV Backlight 3 Pro, featuring an industry-first HDR triple-camera system for more accurate color matching, increased brightness, and AI-driven color adjustments, set to launch in September.
Philips Hue announced a new Bridge Pro for $99 with expanded support and innovative MotionAware technology, along with affordable Essential series bulbs starting at $25, aiming to make smart lighting more accessible and feature-rich.
Philips Hue is upgrading its smart bulbs with a new feature called MotionAware, which uses RF sensing via Zigbee to detect motion and enable advanced automation without additional sensors, requiring the new Bridge Pro for activation, and aiming to enhance ambient smart home experiences.
Philips Hue has launched a major update to its smart lighting line, introducing lower-cost Essentials bulbs, support for Matter over Thread, and new brighter light strips, aiming to compete more effectively with budget and mid-tier rivals while maintaining high quality and ecosystem compatibility.
Philips Hue announced a major product refresh at IFA, introducing a redesigned, more capable Hue Bridge Pro, a new budget-friendly line of smart lights, upgraded flagship bulbs supporting Matter-over-Thread, expanded light strip options, and new outdoor permanent lighting solutions, all aimed at enhancing connectivity, affordability, and user experience.
An early Amazon UK leak reveals upcoming Philips Hue smart home products, including a new doorbell with two-way audio and package detection, a new Hue Bridge model, and an affordable Essential lighting line, along with a new MotionAware technology that uses ZigBee support for motion detection, likely to be announced at IFA 2023.
