Skip to main content

Will Ikea’s Uppleva smart TV really cost nearly $1000 for the 24-inch model?

Ikea UpplevaNew information has emerged concerning Ikea’s forthcoming Uppleva home entertainment system, which was publicly announced during April, but with only the minimum of detail.

It’s the Swedish brand’s attempt to integrate its love of minimalist design and a high degree of customization into the ultra-competitive world of consumer electronics, and it’s a very brave move indeed. Especially if the price they’ve given relates to the model with the smallest screen.

Recommended Videos

We already know the Uppleva is a smart TV that comes with a Blu-ray player, a 2.1 audio system and a clever stand to organize and hide away all the cables, but Gigaom.com has managed to unearth some more information regarding the “smart” aspect of the television.

Like other connected TVs, the Uppleva will come with a variety of apps installed, totaling around 20 in this case. Not surprisingly, apps for the big names in online video will be standard, so expect native YouTube, Vimeo and Dailymotion support.

As the Uppleva will initially be released in parts of Europe, the only radio apps mentioned are QTom and TuneIn, plus there will be local versions of TV catch-up apps and video-on-demand services, but as they’ll primarily be specific to the country in which the Uppleva will be sold, no names have been mentioned.

The browser will likely be Opera TV, which includes a customized, TV-friendly interface and the ability to sync all your bookmarks and passwords across from the desktop version.

Screen sizes and pricing

The screen is going to be manufactured by China’s TCL Corporation, which produces products for RCA in America and Alcatel in Europe, and will be available in several different sizes, starting at 24-inches and moving up to 46-inches. According to GDGT.com, a unusual 36-inch model and a more regular 40-inch model will join them.

Going by this information, it looks like the $960 start price could be for the 24-inch model.

While this price has been obtained by converting over the starting cost in Swedish Krona, it’s probably not going to be all that different in dollars, and you’re going to have to really love the design, the 2.1 speaker system and the media player to pay that for a 24-inch screen; especially when you can pop down to Best Buy and pick up the latest 40-inch Samsung 3D smart TV for $999.

But then, the Uppleva probably isn’t going to attract those who want the highest spec TV or the biggest screen, and instead will appeal to those who dislike being forced to integrate a TV that doesn’t fit with the decor into their homes.

The Uppleva’s staggered release schedule begins next month, when the Uppleva will start appearing in Europe, before arriving in the USA sometime next year.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Digital Trends’ Top Tech of CES 2025 Awards
Top Tech of CES

Las Vegas is overrun. Every billboard in town is shouting about AI, hotel bar tops now sport a sea of laptops, and after hours The Strip is elbow to elbow with engineers toting yard-long beers.

That means CES, the year’s biggest tech bacchanalia, has come to town, and Digital Trends editors have spent the last four days frolicking among next year’s crop of incredible TVs, computers, tablets, and EVs. We’re in heaven.

Read more
Ring shows off new Kidde smoke alarms and free 2K camera upgrades at CES 2025
A person setting up a Ring Smoke Detector.

Ring made a big -- though rather surprising -- announcement at CES 2025, revealing that it has partnered with Kidde to launch a new collection of smart smoke alarms. Arriving in April, the collection includes the Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm and Combination Alarm, the latter of which detects both smoke and carbon monoxide. They’ll sync with the existing Ring app to send users alerts should anything trigger its sensors, and they should be an enticing option for folks who have already bought into the Ring ecosystem.

While customers will receive alerts via the mobile app, they can also sign up for the new Ring 24/7 Smoke & CO Monitoring Subscription for $5 per month. This is a professional monitoring service that lets a trained dispatch team keep tabs on your detectors -- and if they’re triggered, the dispatch team can automatically contact emergency services and send them to your home. That should provide more peace of mind than your normal smoke alarms, which might ring out loud and clear but can’t alert the fire department.

Read more
Jackery’s new solar panels are indistinguishable from your roof
jackerys new solar panels are indistinguishable from your roof jwholehome

When you think of solar panels on a home, what's the first thing that comes to mind? In most cases, it's the square, black photovoltaic cells. While those do work, they aren't the most aesthetically pleasing. This is an issue, especially in communities with draconic HOAs. The Jackery Solar Roof offers an attractive alternative that's practically indistinguishable from terracotta roofing tiles.

The Solar Roof has a conversion rate of over 25%. That might not sound like a lot, but the average efficiency rating of solar panels is typically between 15% and 22%, putting Jackery far ahead of the pack. These panels are tougher than a normal roof, too; they're impact and hail resistant and come with a 30-year warranty. That's right, 30 years (and the average lifespan of a normal roof is only 20 years).

Read more