The donut-shaped IKEA Varmblixt smart lamp was one of the surprise highlights at this year’s CES, and although IKEA said it would officially launch in April, it appears that some stores have already begun selling it earlier than expected. The lamp has also appeared on IKEA’s Swedish website, where it’s described as “a magical sight that catches the eye” — a description that many early viewers seem to agree with.
A redesigned version of a popular lamp
The new model is an updated take on the original IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp, which first launched in 2022. The earlier version featured a glossy orange finish designed to create a warm glow in a room.
The updated version introduces several improvements:
- Softly shifting pastel colors
- A frosted glass finish
- Support for Matter, allowing the lamp to integrate with compatible smart home systems.
A striking visual experience
During CES, Lance Ulanoff from TechGenB had the opportunity to see the lamp in person and was impressed by its visual effect.
He described how the lamp’s colors shift gradually with each press of the remote control, transitioning smoothly between different tones. According to him, the light diffusion through the molded glass looks almost perfect, creating a calming and visually pleasing glow.
Designed in collaboration with an artist
Like the original lamp, the new Varmblixt was created in collaboration with Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, who is known for combining pastel colors, geometric shapes, and light in her work.
Unlike many smart lights that allow users to select any color from a full spectrum, the Varmblixt uses a carefully curated palette of colors chosen by Marcelis to complement the lamp’s distinctive circular design.
Users can:
- switch between colors using a remote control
- connect the lamp to the IKEA app to access around 40 different shades
A lamp first, smart device second
According to David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, the product is intended to be appreciated primarily as a beautiful lighting piece, rather than simply a smart device.
He noted that many buyers will likely choose it because it can change the atmosphere of a room with a single button press, rather than for its smart-home features.
Price and availability
So far, the lamp has mainly been spotted in stores across continental Europe. On IKEA’s Swedish website, the Varmblixt smart lamp is listed at 699 Swedish kronor, and it is expected to cost about $99 in the United States.
If its early reception is any indication, the updated Varmblixt could quickly become one of IKEA’s most popular design-focused smart lighting products once it becomes widely available
