‘It’s my unexpected favorite’ – IKEA exec reveals why this $10 / £5 sensor is his top pick from the new smart gadget range

IKEA might be known for its brilliant bedding and space-saving storage solutions, but it recently launched an intriguing new smart gadget range. I chatted to David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA, about the Swedish homeware giant’s new additions, and he revealed an unexpected favorite: the Timmerflotte temperature sensor.

“I think it’s a great example of what we want to offer: a simple, useful product at a price point most can afford,” he comments. The Timmerflotte is already available to buy, and costs a wallet-friendly $9.99 at IKEA US and an even-more-affordable £5 at IKEA UK. As David points out, that’s a low enough price that you could easy kit your home out with one in each room.

The beauty of this product – other than the price – is that it’s supremely user-friendly. It requires almost zero tech knowledge to set up, and even less to use. “We chose to add a simple display on the product, which for me is key,” explains David. “It takes away the need to understand how it connects; it simply works out of the box.”

Like the rest of the new additions, it’s compatible with the universal Matter standard, which means don’t need to worry about it not playing nicely with your existing smart home ecosystem, if you have one.

The screen also means you don’t need to use the app to gain useful insights – although, of course, that’s available if you do want to dig deeper. “It gives you instant access to see temperature and humidity,” David continues. “And whenever needed it’s available in your apps to use for automations or see values when you’re away from home.”