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

Monday January 7, 2019 10:56 AM PST by Juli Clover
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.

Tags: HomeKit Guide, Ikea
21 comments

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Pupi
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Kaibelf
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Killbill2
12 months ago
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.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Jaro65
12 months ago
Hopefully this is just the initial rollout and Ikea will expand the range of colors.
Rating: 2 Votes
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8281
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 2 Votes
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RC Mike
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Arran
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 1 Votes
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KazKam
12 months ago
I've always wanted motorized sun shades but they've always been a prohibitively expensive upgrade. Now they're slightly less so. Cool.
Rating: 1 Votes
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justperry
12 months ago

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.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Vasilioskn
12 months ago
Why do no smart blinds / shades have solar power installed? Doesn’t that make sense
Rating: 1 Votes
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