Ikea Deepens Investment in Matter
Ikea has unveiled 21 new Matter-over-Thread smart home devices, including updated bulbs, remotes, plugs, and sensors, to improve cross-brand compatibility. The Kajplats bulb lineup offers 11 simplified options, while Bilresa remotes feature versatile controls. New sensors monitor motion, leaks, temperature, and air quality. Ikea’s Dirigera hub now fully supports Matter, enabling integration with other platforms. Products launch globally this month, with U.S. availability starting January 2026 for remotes and April for bulbs.
The Circana Take:
- While Ikea as a retailer may see less traffic than other more mass retail destinations, the completeness of their smart home offering will appeal to first time adopters looking for an all-in-one solution.
- Ikea is also reaching potential smart home customers while they are shopping for home furnishings, and likely receptive to considering these products during their shopping trip.
- The retailer’s investment in Matter is an effort at simplifying installation and usage while offering the ability to bring in outside brands into the network.
Vivint’s New Outdoor Camera Leverages AI
Vivint announced its Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 3), launching February 2026 for $400. It’s the first outdoor security camera combining RADAR and AI for behavior-based threat detection, reducing false alerts. In addition to offering 24/7 recording to cloud and locally, Vivint’s new camera features Smart Deter, a proactive deterrence feature able to detect suspicious actions captured on the camera- such as an unknown person lingering near a door or vehicle too long.
The Circana Take:
- Vivint’s AI application touts predictive and preventative measures to keep homes safe, a departure from the recognition-based nature of many security cameras.
- With advanced AI features an increasingly important component of a device’s monthly subscription, expect more companies to focus on the predictive capabilities of their camera’s intelligence.