Ikea's HomeKit-Enabled Smart Blinds Launch in Germany, U.S. Launch Coming April 1 [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Ikea this week added to its line of HomeKit-connected smart home products with the launch of the Kadrilj and Fyrtur smart roller blinds, which are now available for purchase in Germany.

Both of the smart blind products are powered via a battery that allows users to raise or lower them through an included remote control, a smartphone app, or through Alexa, Google Assistant, or HomeKit.

Demo video via Zatz Not Funny​

The blinds come in six different sizes to fit a variety of windows, ranging from 80x195cm to 140x195cm. Both are a gray shade, but the Kadrilj is a darker gray than the Fyrtur and less transparent.

Ikea's website says that the blinds are available in some German Ikea stores, and will be available online starting on February 2. Pricing starts at 99 euros for Kadrilj and 199 euros for Fyrtur.

It's not yet clear if the February 2 online rollout will include availability in the United States, but with the blinds available in Germany, a U.S. launch is not likely to be too far behind.

Update: Ikea's HomeKit-enabled smart blinds will be available in the United States starting on April 1. Ikea plans to sell the Fyrtur model in the U.S., with the Kadrilj model limited to other countries.

Article Link: Ikea's HomeKit-Enabled Smart Blinds Launch in Germany, U.S. Launch Coming April 1 [Updated]

 

[pixelrogue]

So interested in these, yet it appears the outside of the blinds are also gray making these a deal breaker when you association laws state white only on the outside. White inly on the outside is actually required at most associations. Shame.

 

[RMo]

The blinds...

Not trying to be overly picky, but these look like smart shades, not smart blinds, where blinds are generally understood to have slats--and for me the distinction is important with "smart" products because I'm looking for something affordable that can tilt the slats, not just open/close or raise/lower an entire shade (or curtain). I'm still waiting. MoveZ looks like the most promising should it ever actually be released (not the "regular" Move, since I don't want something that can't be integrated with any other system--and speaking of integration, these blinds are nice since they integrate with Tradfri and would presumably also be able to be able to be made usable on other ZigBee networks).

 

[Killbill2]

It would be nice if Ikea would spend some time keeping their hub usable... I’ve tossed all my Ikea “HomeKit” gear because of having to restart the device every couple of days while Philips Hue has never had a problem... other than the price.

 

[Jaro65]

Hopefully this is just the initial rollout and Ikea will expand the range of colors.

 

[KazKam]

I've always wanted motorized sun shades but they've always been a prohibitively expensive upgrade. Now they're slightly less so. Cool.

 

[alexgowers]

Now I’d be up for some motorised curtain versions but not these.

I have floor to ceiling windows and pulling curtains is never fun due to inability to move them fully open. I also like the ability to open them to wake naturally but also have blackout at night because of powerful street lighting that keep us awake.

 

[Pupi]

Very cool. Also, I've got the feeling it will be relatively easy to swap out the fabrics in these.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

 

[Pupi]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

I tend to be lazy when I'm sleeping yes, so it would be cool to wake up with natural light via automation of smart blinds.

 

[mrow]

Very interested in these.

Do we have an info on how long that battery in the video that powers the motor lasts?

 

[Kaibelf]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

Once again, someone goes and applies their utterly meaningless notion of value to the entire world.

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

Hopefully this is just the initial rollout and Ikea will expand the range of colors.

Also interested in hardwiring. Another battery I'll have to remember to change is very unappealing.

 

[justperry]

It would be nice if Ikea would spend some time keeping their hub usable... I’ve tossed all my Ikea “HomeKit” gear because of having to restart the device every couple of days while Philips Hue has never had a problem... other than the price.

For you, had/have lots of trouble with mine.

Very cool. Also, I've got the feeling it will be relatively easy to swap out the fabrics in these.

Hopefully, I want them to be opaque.

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

What about less or difficult accessible places!

I tend to be lazy when I'm sleeping yes, so it would be cool to wake up with natural light via automation of smart blinds.

Exactly.

Very interested in these.

Do we have an info on how long that battery in the video that powers the motor lasts?

It seems to use Lithium cells, if you use them twice daily I bet they will last weeks if not months.

Also interested in hardwiring. Another battery I'll have to remember to change is very unappealing.

Not always easy to run cables, most of the time it's a major job.

 

[RC Mike]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

I've got something like 25 sets of blinds. If I lived in an apartment with two windows, sure, I'd ask why, too.

Wish some good retrofit stuff would actually come out. Can't put up something as cheap as the Ikea stuff, and the nice stuff is pretty pricey.

 

[8281]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

I’m busy and didn’t want to spend time vacuuming so I bought a Roomba. If that makes me lazy, fine.

 

[Vasilioskn]

Why do no smart blinds / shades have solar power installed? Doesn’t that make sense

 

[Stella]

They are great for mobility impaired people. It’s not all about laziness :-/

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

 

[ayzee]

These would be perfect for my living room, so glad I held off on buying new curtains.

I’m loving HomeKit, it’s so accessible

 

[Arran]

So now we’re so lazy we need smart blinds? What a waste of money.

Energy saving. Money saving.

In winter, they can open a sunny day to heat your house for free. In summer, they can close to deflect heat outside and cut your air conditioning bill.

With a bit of automation and integration (with a smart thermostat) they can do all the above while you're out at work.

That's where this is headed.
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Why do no smart blinds / shades have solar power installed? Doesn’t that make sense

To charge the batteries? Makes perfect sense.

 

[TwoBytes]

I wonder how many KG these can pull (i.e., if you have heavy blinds)

 

[MDF314159265]

Hopefully available in feet/inches in America. This "centimeter" nonsense is insane! 10 mm = 1cm; 100cm=1m; 1000m=1km... Pfff! Who makes this stuff up!? Next thing you know they'll say 1 inch is equal to 2.54cm or 25.4mm.

12 inches = 1 foot - now THAT, is urithmatick!