Sound at Ikea is about to get a whole lot simpler, and cheaper. After quietly ending its eight-year partnership with Sonos, Ikea is doubling down on Bluetooth and Spotify Tap for its next generation of speaker lamps and sound products.
Bluetooth and quick-to-music features like Spotify Tap are now at the core of Ikea’s sound strategy. “Our aim is to make sound accessible, functional, and enjoyable without adding complexity,” said David Granath, Ikea Range Manager for lighting and home electronics. “That’s what sets us apart, and that’s what we’ll keep building on as we shape the next chapter of what sound can be in the home.”
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The company’s new direction was announced alongside a plan to embrace the Matter smart home protocol. First up: the Blomprakt Bluetooth speaker lamp with an integrated LED bulb, landing in stores this October for less than €100 (under $120). It follows the colorful $49.99 Nattbad Bluetooth speaker Ikea revealed last month. Both new speakers cost far less than the Ikea x Sonos Symfonisk range that’s slowly disappearing from shelves: the Wi-Fi bookshelf speaker now goes for $179.99 and the speaker lamp starts at $269.99.
The new speaker lamp and its siblings are designed for people who just want to press play and go. Ikea’s Spotify Tap button, which first appeared on the $89.99 Vappeby outdoor speaker lamp in 2022, makes a return. Tap it once to pick up where you left off on Spotify, tap it again to discover another track. The feature works with any Spotify account, free or premium. And if Spotify isn’t your thing, Bluetooth 5.3 lets you pair your device and stream however you like.
There’s more. The updated Bluetooth 5.3 also means you can drop a few speakers in a room and link them up with the press of a button. The setup is still mono, so don’t expect surround sound or stereo separation, but it’ll easily fill your space with music. Plus, two devices can be connected to the same speaker at once.
So what about that Sonos split? Granath says it was amicable. “We had achieved what we set out to do and we both had our strategies and plans going forward. It wasn’t more dramatic than that.” But the price and complexity of the Symfonisk line seem to have played a role. “When you have to sell a speaker for over €200, you exclude a lot of people,” said Granath.
Looking ahead, Ikea has big plans to make its sound offering “for the many people.” Up to ten new Bluetooth speakers could launch as soon as January, including pieces from an ongoing collaboration with designer Tekla Evelina Severin, aka Teklan. Granath shared a glimpse of what’s next with an unannounced battery-powered Bluetooth speaker with a flat circular design that hovers over a small tray for your keys, phone, or even a few mixed nuts.
More of these hybrid home pieces are on the way: think speakers built into lamps and shelves, air purifiers that double as side tables, wireless chargers hidden in furniture. And while audiophiles might have to wait for a Matter-certified Ikea Wi-Fi speaker, Granath says the brand is learning from the Sonos years and staying true to its mission: simple, functional design that fits into everyday life.
For now, the future of sound at Ikea is affordable, easy to use, and just a tap away.
