'A marriage of hue and form' — IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt smart lamp has started landing in stores early, and we can't wait to get our hands on it again

• The hugely popular IKEA Varmblixt smart lamp has been spotted in stores
• It features frosted glass, shifting colors, and smart home compatibility
• It's scheduled for an April release, but some shoppers have found it already

IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt smart lamp was a surprise highlight of this year's CES technology show, and although the company said it would have its official launch in April, it seems some stores have jumped the gun and started stocking their shelves early. The lamp has also appeared on IKEA's Swedish website, where it's described as "a magical sight that catches the eye" — and we're inclined to agree.

The lamp is an updated version of the original Varmblixt LED lamp, which launched in 2022. The classic lamp has a glossy orange finish to fill your room with a warm glow, but it's now had a makeover with softly shifting pastel colors, a frosted finish, and Matter compatibility so you can integrate it with your smart home.

TechRadar's Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff got his hands on the new lamp on the show floor, and couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards.

"With each press of the remote, I watched as the color shifted almost imperceptibly, then slowly transitioned to the new, fully-dimmable hue," he wrote after experiencing it in person. "Not only that, but the color diffusion under the molded glass is near perfect. It's simply beautiful to watch, and I loved basking in the glow."

He imagined owning one, calling it a "marriage of hue and form", and it seems that dream might not be too far off. As German site Notebookcheck reports, some shoppers have already spotted the redesigned lamp in their local stores — and posted photo evidence to prove it.

Like its predecessor, the new Varmblixt is a collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, who is known for her use of pastel colors, light, and geometric shapes.

Unlike most smart lights, which let you pick any color on the spectrum, the Varmblixt lamp shifts between a limited palette of hues hand-picked by Marcellis to complement its shape. You can move smoothly between these colors using a remote control, or connect it to the IKEA app to open up a wider selection of 40 shades, but that's entirely optional.

"Most people won't buy this updated Varmblixt because they want a smart device but because it’s a beautiful lamp, where you can change the atmosphere of a room with a click of a button," David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, told TechRadar in an exclusive interview last month.

The lamp hasn't yet been spotted outside continental Europe, but we'll certainly be keeping our eyes open next time we're browsing the shelves. It's listed for 699 Krona on IKEA's Swedish site, and is set to cost $99 in the US, so we'll be tempted to grab more than one.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

The best smart lights for every room

➡️ Read our full guide to the best smart lights
1. Best overall:
Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance
2. Best budget:
Govee Wi-Fi LED Bulb
3. Best for parties:
Govee Curtain Lights
4. Best for bedtime:
Philips Hue Twilight