Your Samsung Soundbar Is Now a Smart Home Hub — Thanks to IKEA

That’s the practical takeaway from the SmartThings and IKEA integration that Samsung confirmed last week, bringing 25 of IKEA’s new Matter-over-Thread devices into the SmartThings platform without requiring the IKEA DIRIGERA hub that was previously mandatory.

The list spans IKEA’s new Matter-enabled range that began rolling out in stores from January this year, including KAJPLATS smart bulbs, a series of sensors, remotes and smart plugs, with additional categories expected later this year.

All of them run Matter, the cross-vendor smart home standard, and connect via Thread, the low-power mesh protocol that underpins it. Bulbs, plugs and remotes can pair directly to a SmartThings hub, while sensors still require a controller somewhere on the network, whether that’s DIRIGERA, SmartThings, or another compatible Matter platform.

The audio angle is what makes this relevant for hi-fi households. Samsung has been steadily building Thread border routers into its TVs, soundbars and Family Hub refrigerators since 2022, meaning models like the Q990D or S95D already function as part of a Matter network.

Owners who never thought of their soundbar as smart-home infrastructure now find it doing double duty, handling audio in the living room while acting as a Thread hub for connected devices across the home.

Pricing is aggressive. A dimmable bulb comes in well below comparable Matter-enabled options from Philips Hue and Aqara, while sensors covering motion, door and window status, water leaks and air quality are positioned at entry-level price points.

None of these will trouble a high-end smart-home installer, but for a hi-fi or home-theatre enthusiast who wants room lighting tied to a listening session or a leak alarm under the rack, they’re hard to argue with. What SmartThings adds on top of the base Matter functionality is automation depth.

Samsung’s AI Routine Creation Assistant suggests scenes based on usage patterns, while features such as the Galaxy Sleep Environment Report and SmartThings Pet Care extend the platform beyond simple device control. Support for IKEA’s scroll-wheel remote is also more complete within SmartThings than on some competing platforms.

Matter compatibility means these IKEA devices also work across Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa. SmartThings offers the most extensive automation layer, while Apple Home remains one of the more streamlined environments for setup when paired with existing Thread border routers such as Apple TV 4K or HomePod.

Samsung’s figure of 25 devices reflects individual SKUs, while IKEA groups some variants together in its own product counts. Either way, it represents one of the more substantial Matter-over-Thread launches from a global retailer to date.

The move also signals a shift away from IKEA’s earlier Trådfri platform, toward a model that treats the smart home less as a standalone system and more as part of the wider connected infrastructure.

For more information visit Samsung