Ikea has rolled out a significant update to its Home smart app, introducing a dynamic lighting feature that automatically adjusts the brightness and color temperature of its smart lights throughout the day. This new feature, similar to Philips Hue's natural light scene introduced in 2022, aims to provide a more natural and balanced lighting experience in the home.

The update, which was quietly rolled out this week, is designed to mimic the natural light cycles of the day. The app will gradually adjust the lighting to provide warmer illumination in the mornings and evenings, with cooler hues during the daytime. According to Ikea, this feature is intended to promote a sense of balance and well-being, benefiting both the mind, body, and soul.

The dynamic lighting feature is exclusive to Ikea's Home smart app and is only compatible with lighting products that connect to Ikea's Matter-ready Dirigera smart home hub, launched in the latter half of 2022. This includes products like the Sonos-compatible Symfonisk speaker lamp. However, it remains unclear whether the feature will work with third-party smart lights through Matter, and Ikea has been reached out to for confirmation.

The update has sparked interest in the smart home community, with many users eager to experience the benefits of dynamic lighting. While Ikea's feature is not entirely novel, its integration with the company's existing smart home ecosystem makes it a significant development in the industry. As the smart home market continues to evolve, features like dynamic lighting will play an increasingly important role in creating a seamless and intuitive user experience.

The lack of mention of the dynamic lighting feature in the Android version of the Ikea Home smart app has raised some questions. While the Android update did include bug fixes and minor improvements, the omission of this key feature has left some users wondering about the reasons behind it. Ikea has not provided an official statement on the matter, but it is likely that the feature will be added to the Android app in a future update.

As the smart home market continues to grow, companies like Ikea are under pressure to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. The introduction of dynamic lighting is a significant step forward for Ikea, and it will be interesting to see how the company chooses to develop this feature further in the future. With the rise of Matter and other smart home standards, the possibilities for seamless integration and innovative features are endless, and Ikea's latest update is just the beginning.