My New Ikea Smart Lamp Is a Glowing Doughnut of Happiness

When the CNET workforce first noticed photos of Ikea’s Varmblixt lamp at CES 2026, upgraded with new sensible options, the typical reaction used to be, “I would like one!” Now I’ve one, and it is definitely worth the $100 worth.

The Swedish furnishings large has created a amusing, aesthetically warming gentle you’ll have compatibility just about any place. It’s made way more helpful and handy with the addition of sensible house and Matter same old fortify to be used with Apple Home/Siri, Alexa, Google Home and extra. It’s similarly at house in a bed room, dorm, front room, hallway wall or rest room.

Ikea used to be set to unlock the upgraded lamp in April, however driven the date previous to March, so now any individual can check out it. Here’s why it’s possible you’ll wish to, according to my revel in.

An captivating lamp design from Ikea

Measuring round a foot vast, the Varmblixt comes with a twine, a small on/off faraway and little else. The doughnut-like quilt seems and feels slightly like easy ceramic, however it is in reality sturdy ABS plastic. That makes the lamp much less prone to wreck, however you can nonetheless wish to steer clear of striking it in puts the place it is simple to knock it over.

The base of the lamp is not just for flat surfaces. You too can mount it to the wall with a couple of screws, providing you with many extra set up choices. What occurs when the sunshine inside of burns out? Ikea has a push button that unlocks the doughnut, letting you raise it up and substitute the sunshine inside of when important.

As with the brand new Ikea safety sensors I examined, setup used to be so simple as scanning a QR code and popping over to my house platform of selection (Apple Home on this case) to attach… nicely, virtually. For this assessment, I had to take a look at a couple of occasions prior to the relationship finished, ultimately transferring the lamp nearer to my Wi-Fi router, which gave the impression to assist.

Ikea sells its own Dirigera smart hub to allow sensible gentle controls, however you don’t want it you probably have any software that may act as a house hub, together with a Nest speaker or hub, an Echo speaker or sensible show, an Apple HomePod or a more recent Apple TV. That’s a really perfect state of affairs, because the Dirigera prices $110, making this sensible lamp a dear funding.

Cozy glows for atmosphere and slightly of illumination

The Varmblixt lamp may not win awards for sheer lumen output: It’s designed to be a much more mild gentle than most of the floodlights and LED bulbs I’ve examined. That makes the lamp well-suited for atmosphere, accessory lighting fixtures or a amusing centerpiece on a desk. If the lighting ever pass down for a birthday party, it’s going to in point of fact begin to shine.

That quiet gentle could have extra productive functions, too. Perch the lamp on a bedside desk and it can be a comfy studying gentle. Hang it in a hallway (most likely hooked up to a Matter-compatible movement sensor), and it could turn out to be a serene nightlight. In an entryway and set with a timer, it will greet the ones coming house past due at night time from paintings. I attempted the lamp in different puts and could not make a decision the place I preferred it easiest.

Brightness controls are innate to the lamp, regardless of which platform you employ — one thing I’ll speak about beneath — and colour choices vary from heat reds to chill blues. Ikea additionally provides a style to select your personal colour from the entire rainbow and switch adaptive lighting fixtures (responding to ambient gentle ranges) on or off. There aren’t any complex options right here like tune syncing, so you will have to arrange adjustments by yourself with an app, however that handiest takes a few seconds.

Smart house options carry this lamp in the entire proper techniques

Ikea’s lamp is way, a lot better with Matter fortify and the entire related sensible house connections. Whichever app you employ, you’ll alter brightness and colour straight away with sliders and icons.

The Matter sensible house same old and Apple/Alexa/Google compatibility additionally make it simple to set automations and scenes. Apple Home, as an example, advised scenes like turning on whilst you get house or within the morning, and you can to find an identical choices on all platforms.

Automations additionally assist you to attach sensible lamp conduct to movements like your sensible lock unlocking, a movement sensor triggering and different helpful methods relying at the different tech you could have round your own home. And you’ll regulate the lamp with the voice assistant of your selection.

The handiest problem I realized used to be that when the use of app controls at the lamp for some time, it gave the impression to cede regulate clear of the faraway, which I discovered hesitant to paintings correctly in a while. I handiest spotted as a result of I made certain to check it, for the reason that app controls are awesome so long as your telephone is close by. There is a handbook button at the lamp to energy on/off and reboot as wanted.

Final ideas at the Ikea Varmblixt sensible lamp

Ikea’s spherical lamp proved a contented presence in my house, with its sensible options raising it to a excessive advice for any individual who desires ambient illumination. While operation with the integrated faraway appeared a little bit iffy in my exams, the app controls and automation choices had been very good. The general high quality may be a lot upper than you may be expecting from Ikea, which is helping give an explanation for the just about $100 ticket.

This glowy doughnut is at house virtually any place, together with each tables and partitions. If you are on the lookout for a distinct lamp, take into consideration how you might want to use it.