Ikea has finally introduced Matter support to its Dirigera smart home hub, a feature that was originally promised nearly two years ago. The Dirigera hub initially launched in May 2022 with the intention of incorporating Matter compatibility shortly after, but the implementation was delayed multiple times.
Now, Ikea has rolled out Matter support for the Dirigera hub in beta form, starting with lighting products. While the specifics of the beta have not been disclosed, it is speculated to encompass lightbulbs, motion sensors, remotes, and potentially smart plugs. With Matter integration, the Dirigera hub can extend its smart lighting capabilities to other compatible Matter platforms, although it already works seamlessly with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home.
It is worth noting that the Dirigera hub functions as a bridge rather than a Matter controller or device, necessitating a compatible controller for the desired platform, such as a HomePod, Echo, or Google smart speaker. Although Ikea has previously mentioned the hub's potential to support Thread, there has been no announcement regarding the conversion of the Dirigera into a Thread border router at this time.
The Dirigera's Matter support is currently in beta testing, with no clear pathway for users to sign up as beta testers. Ikea has not specified a timeline for the stable release of Matter support for the hub. Overall, this update signifies Ikea's ongoing commitment to enhancing its smart home ecosystem and providing customers with the latest technology advancements.
