IKEA ditches Zigbee for Thread going all in on Matter smart homes

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Access and paywall

  • Many note The Verge’s new paywall and share archive links; discussion quickly moves to technology once article is accessible.

Smart switches, obsolescence, and failure modes

  • Concern that “smart” light switches can become obsolete like routers.
  • Several clarify that well-designed smart switches preserve manual operation via a relay behind a normal mechanical front; only radio/remote features become obsolete.
  • Others are skeptical manufacturers will handle edge cases correctly, worrying about brittle behavior after resets, power issues, or provisioning failures.

Thread vs Zigbee: what problem is being solved?

  • Some don’t see what Thread offers over Zigbee, since both need “something” (hub vs border router).
  • Pro‑Thread arguments:
    • Lower latency and potentially better power use due to fewer/more efficient packets.
    • IP (IPv6/6LoWPAN) stack is easier to develop for, tooling is better, and meshes can extend cleanly over Ethernet/Wi‑Fi.
    • Matter is positioned as “next‑gen Zigbee,” defined by the same alliance, with Thread just one transport.
  • Skeptics highlight increased complexity, chattiness of Matter stacks, and confusion around controllers vs border routers.

Local control, internet, and security

  • Multiple posters confirm Thread/Matter can operate fully locally and don’t inherently require cloud access.
  • Some warn that because everything is IP, border routers and consumer setups may “accidentally” expose devices to the internet.
  • Others counter that Thread is mesh‑local by default and doesn’t depend on DHCP/DNS, similar to Zigbee in that respect.
  • Some value Zigbee specifically because it is not IP and therefore naturally segregates IoT from the main network.

Provisioning UX (QR codes vs Bluetooth)

  • Matter adds Bluetooth provisioning and multi‑controller support, which retailers like (fast setup, one app).
  • Developers worry UX‑first flows (e.g., reset on rapid power cycling) can create security risks and long‑term downtime.
  • Opinions split on QR codes: some find them robust and “password‑like”; others report real‑world pain when codes are lost or inaccessible and welcome Bluetooth commissioning.

Openness, PKI, and certification

  • One camp calls Matter/Thread a “closed ecosystem” due to PKI, device attestation, and certification/membership fees.
  • Others argue:
    • Specs and SDKs are public and royalty‑free.
    • Certification mainly controls branding and official “trusted” status, similar to Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/Zigbee.
    • Hobbyists can run “development” or test‑key devices and commission them via Home Assistant, Google, or Apple with warnings/extra steps.
  • There’s unease that cryptographic enforcement plus big‑vendor commissioners could, in theory, be tightened later, limiting DIY and cheap “no‑name” devices.

IKEA, legacy Zigbee gear, and fragmentation

  • Many praise IKEA’s Zigbee line as cheap, well‑built, and cloud‑optional; disappointment and anxiety about the transition are common.
  • Concerns:
    • Mixed Zigbee/Thread/Matter setups require more radios and risk fragmented meshes, especially in large or solid‑walled homes.
    • Some fear needing to eventually replace working Zigbee devices or juggle multiple hubs.
  • Others note:
    • IKEA’s newer hub already supports both Zigbee and Thread.
    • In Home Assistant and similar systems, adding another radio is routine; multi‑protocol environments (Zigbee, Z‑Wave, Wi‑Fi, Thread) are common and manageable, though RF saturation and topology still matter.

Matter/Thread real‑world reliability

  • Experiences diverge sharply:
    • Some report Matter over Thread (often via Apple TV or Echo) now more reliable than their older Zigbee/Z‑Wave setups.
    • Others label Matter “an unusable mess,” especially through Home Assistant’s current integration, with complex pairing flows and add‑on requirements.
    • A few found Thread devices so flaky they abandoned them; others say their IKEA Zigbee hardware has been rock‑solid for years.
  • Several comment that manufacturers sometimes expose very limited functionality via Matter (e.g., only lock/unlock, no user management), forcing use of vendor apps for advanced features.

Home Assistant vs turnkey ecosystems

  • Enthusiasts stress that Home Assistant (plus Zigbee2MQTT, etc.) can bridge any mix of Zigbee, Thread, Z‑Wave, and Wi‑Fi, insulating users from vendor lock‑in and protocol churn.
  • Others push back that:
    • Running HA is a “sysadmin job” many people don’t want.
    • HA’s installation methods, UI complexity, and occasional integration flakiness make it unsuitable for non‑technical households who just want “appliances.”
  • Counterpoint: several long‑time HA users report years of stable operation with minimal maintenance, especially on HAOS/Green/Yellow hardware.

Economic and ecosystem dynamics

  • Some see IKEA’s move as part of a recurring pattern: vendors push new “systems” to lock in customers and create recurring revenue, while standards solve only interoperability at the protocol layer, not business incentives.
  • Developers from device manufacturers say marketing departments resist Matter because they want their own apps for data collection and cross‑selling, which conflicts with Matter’s promise of vendor‑agnostic control.