5 portable gadgets you didn’t know you could buy at Ikea

Even though Ikea started as a furniture store and became famous, it’s no surprise that it expanded into home electronics. After all, smart homes are booming and homeowners are continually adding all kinds of gadgets and gadgets to their living space in the name of comfort and convenience.

Right now, there are dozens of electronic devices you can buy at Ikea that could solve household problems you probably didn’t know existed. For example, you have the Pilskott LED floor lamp, which illuminates the space without taking up too much floor space. You can also get the Symfonisk Picture Frame with Wi-Fi Speaker, designed to add a touch of visual style and ambient sound to the room.

Of course, not all electronic gadgets have to be huge. Ikea also has a huge range of smaller, portable gadgets that will make your life easier, all from the palm of your hand.

Controlling lights from a wall switch is last season. If you prefer to stay comfortable on the sofa but need to turn off the light, you will need a smart remote control like the scroll wheel on the Bilresa remote control from Ikea. This small remote control can be used by hand or attached to a wall or cabinet with magnets.

Despite its compact size, its available controls go beyond simply turning the light on or off. When connected to smart lights, the remote lets you move to the next color with a double press, switch to the previous color with a triple press, and dim the light by scrolling left or right. When paired with speakers, the remote becomes a media controller. Single tap to play or pause, double tap to skip to the next song, and triple tap to go back to the previous song. The scroll wheel, on the other hand, will adjust the volume. When used with smart plugs, the remote acts as a basic on/off switch.

The Bilresa can support up to three groups of 10 devices. Each device in the group will turn on or off with a single press. This then allows you to create predefined scenes in your home. In terms of compatibility, the remote is built on the Matter open standard, so it is not exclusive to the Ikea smart home system. In fact, you are free to connect the Bilresa to your existing systems from Google, Apple, Samsung, Amazon and even Homey.

Converting your living space into a smart home doesn’t have to stop with your interior appliances. You can also make gadgets outside your home smart. All you need is a smart outdoor socket like the Tofsmygga Matter smart outdoor socket from Ikea.

This smart plug is portable enough to carry and install anywhere, but it’s built to withstand the elements. With the lid closed, the Tofsmygga is IP65 rated, meaning it is completely dustproof and can tolerate jets of water from any direction. Besides water and dust, the smart plug can also work even in hot weather. If the ambient temperature gets too high (above 104°F), it will simply turn off until the temperature cools.

As with any other smart plug, you can freely control the Tofsmygga remotely. You can use a dedicated Ikea remote control remotely, pair the plug with a motion sensor for a more automatic approach, or connect it to any Matter-compatible smart hub to set schedules. The plug has two sockets, each with a separate on/off button, and can handle a maximum output power of 1800W (15A). This works great for all the smart ways to use smart plugs outdoors, like powering your outdoor lights or garden equipment. To monitor your usage, the Tofysmygga includes a power monitoring feature so you know how much electricity your devices are consuming and what changes you need to make to save energy and money.

Playing Spotify from your phone is great, but why put unnecessary strain on your phone’s speakers when you can use a portable Bluetooth speaker instead? One option available from Ikea is the Kallsup Portable Speaker, a 3W rechargeable USB-C Bluetooth speaker that fits right in your palm. On a single charge, the speaker can last for approximately nine hours of playback at 50% volume.

The Kallsup only has two buttons. One is for Bluetooth pairing – just tap it to turn pairing on or off. The other button is for media control. Press it once to play or pause music, twice to skip to the next track, and three times to go back to the previous track. The media button is also designed to enable multi-speaker mode on other Kallsup speakers. When you long press it, the other speakers will automatically sync with the original speaker connected to your phone.

Unfortunately, you can’t adjust the volume from the speaker itself. To do this, you will need to use your phone’s reader. The Kallsup doesn’t work with Spotify Tap and doesn’t have a stereo mode, but these features are a welcome trade-off considering it only costs $10.

Wireless chargers are convenient not only because you won’t have to worry about tangled charging cables, but also because you can still use other gadgets connected to your phone’s USB port. You can continue listening through your USB-C headphones or leave a USB mouse connected while you charge your device. However, some wireless chargers can be bulky, so if you’re looking for portability, you might like Ikea’s Vastmarke Wireless Charger. This model measures just 2″ by 1″, small enough to put in your pocket or bag and carry anywhere.

Like other wireless chargers, Vastmarke includes a built-in charging cable. It measures 47″ long, but for added convenience, you can easily wrap it around the donut-shaped silicone to keep it out of the way. This silicone donut also transforms into a phone grip when you unfold it, making it easier to hold your phone while charging.

The wireless charger supports Quick Charge 2.0 and Power Delivery 3.0, and you can use it with any Qi-certified phone. Its maximum power depends on the type of adapter you use. With a PD 9.0/2.2A 20W brick, you get up to 15W. If your adapter is less than 8.5W, the wireless charger can only output up to 5W. The Vastmarke also doesn’t come with a power adapter in the box, so make sure you have at least a 20W USB-C fast charger to get the most out of it.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s worth checking the air quality in your home. Ikea’s Alpstuga air quality sensor can help, without being an eyesore in your living space. This pint-sized air sensor blends seamlessly into the room and allows you to quickly move it to where you most need to monitor air conditions, such as in the kitchen while you cook.

It may be small, but the Alpstuga tells you a lot about the air quality in the room. It checks the level of PM2.5 particles, carbon dioxide (CO2), relative humidity and temperature. Then the data you chose is displayed on the screen. You can browse the data by pressing the button above the sensor. If CO2 and PM2.5 levels exceed safety limits (more than 1,000 ppm for CO2 and 15 micrograms per cubic meter), you will see a warning LED indicator on the sensor. This is the amount of time you need to turn on an air purifier. For a more automated setup, you can pair the Alpstuga with an air purifier through the Ikea smart home system or another Matter-compatible system. As soon as it detects poor air quality, it can start the air purifier.

In addition to an air quality sensor, the Alpstuga also acts as a digital clock. You can leave it as a digital clock on your bedside table while you view air quality data directly in your mobile app.