When you think of IKEA, you probably picture flat-pack furniture and minimalist décor, not connectivity standards. But the Swedish retail giant has been quietly shaking up the smart home industry, and its latest move confirms a massive shift: IKEA is leaving Zigbee behind in favor of the emerging Matter and Thread standards—and this could ripple far beyond their iconic blue stores.

IKEA Commits to Matter and Thread

IKEA has recently unveiled a comprehensive lineup of Matter-compatible smart home devices, officially signaling the company’s move away from the long-standing Zigbee protocol. The upgraded range, from LED bulbs and leak detectors to smart plugs and environmental sensors, is engineered from the ground up for Matter, leveraging Thread as the wireless backbone.

This marks a pivotal shift. While Zigbee has powered everything from IKEA’s Tradfri lights to door sensors for years, the company is now banking on the futureproofing capabilities of Matter and the network reliability of Thread. Thread, unlike traditional Wi-Fi or Zigbee, enables mesh networking with low latency, enhanced interoperability, and direct IP connectivity for devices.

What Does This Mean for Users?

For everyday consumers and smart home hobbyists alike, IKEA’s transition brings both excitement and questions.

• Seamless interconnectivity: Matter aims to eliminate the fragmentation that’s dogged smart home ecosystems for years, providing a universal language for devices from different brands.
• Thread advantages: Devices using Thread can establish robust, self-healing networks—solving Wi-Fi dead zone headaches and reducing dependency on single-brand hubs.
• Support for legacy devices: IKEA’s updated Dirigera hub doubles as a Matter Bridge, letting you integrate older Zigbee gadgets into new setups. That means your existing investments in bulbs, remotes, and sensors should continue to function.

Is Zigbee Really on the Way Out?

Not immediately. Zigbee’s entrenched presence—spanning years of affordable hardware and broad integration in systems like Home Assistant—means plenty of households will keep using it. Plus, products from brands like Aqara, Sonoff, and Tuya still rely heavily on Zigbee. IKEA’s choice, however, sends a clear signal to the market: demand is shifting.

You’ll likely see:

• Deep discounts on Zigbee products as IKEA clears out inventory.
• More brands and users pivoting to Matter/Thread—especially as Apple, Google, Amazon, and others standardize their device ecosystems.

The Bigger Picture: Why Matter (and Thread) Matter

Adoption of Matter and Thread is about more than just protocol wars—it’s about making smart homes mainstream, frictionless, and brand-agnostic. IKEA’s reach, affordability, and simple design philosophy could be the catalyst these standards need to gain critical mass.

For tech-savvy users, the message is clear: now’s the time to diversify your skills. Learning how to manage multi-protocol environments, bridge devices, and optimize connectivity will set you apart as the industry transitions.

Final Thoughts

IKEA’s bold step casts a spotlight on the “old guard” technologies powering our homes. While Zigbee won’t disappear overnight, its sunset is now visible on the horizon—and for Matter and Thread, sunrise is coming quickly. Whether you’re a smart home tinkerer, integrator, or casual consumer, it’s an exciting time to rethink your strategy and get hands-on with the future.

Cionlabs has developed total solution on matter compliant IoT home automation devices based on Beken chipset. We are helping our clients to quickly launch home automation products with our whitelabel solutions. Drop us a note at contact@cionlabs.com for details.