Tech
IKEA released a smart version of its viral Varmblixt donut lamp — I tried it
In 2023, the internet was ablaze with IKEA's Varmblixt lamp, aka the viral donut lamp. If you were among the crowd trekking to IKEA, attempting to find the donut lamp in stock, we've got some news for you — there's a new version of the lamp to covet. At CES 2026, IKEA unveiled a smart version of its viral donut lamp. Now you can enjoy the same shape lamp in a whole new array of colors.
As the owner of an OG Varmblixt lamp, I've been waiting for the smart version to drop, and it's finally here. And I got to go hands-on with the new donut lamp to see what it's all about.
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About the IKEA Varmblixt lamp
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The IKEA Varmblixt lamp first debuted in 2023, designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis. Operating as either a table or wall lamp, the Varmblixt is crafted from orange glass, bringing gorgeous ambient glow to any room.
Differences between the OG and smart Varmblixt lamp
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
With the Varmblixt lamp getting the smart upgrade, it's a slight departure from the original. The Varmblixt still has the same donut shape and can still be installed as a table or wall lamp. However, unlike the OG, it's no longer orange. Instead, the updated smart Varmblixt has a matte white glass finish. The color instead comes from the inside with a color-changing bulb. The old Varmblixt has a simple on/off switch, while the new version has a remote to adjust the lamp's color and brightness. Plus, the smart Varmblixt is a Matter device, meaning it will connect to any smart home hub.
How does the new Varmblixt lamp work?
The new Varmblixt doesn't look as exciting from the outside with its white base. But once you turn on the lamp, you can adjust the color and brightness with the included remote.
Using the Varmblixt required a bit more trial and error than I anticipated because, as I should have expected, IKEA's instructions were sparse. You don't need a smart home hub to operate the Varmblixt, although it will connect to yours if you have one.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
If you don't have a smart hub (or even if you do), use the included remote to turn the lamp on or off, adjust the color, and adjust the brightness. IKEA doesn't provide instructions on which remote buttons do what. Luckily for you, I struggled through some trial-and-error, so you don't need to.
The remote has two buttons, marked by a large dot and a small dot. To change the lamp's color, double-click the large or small button. The large button moves you forward through the color wheel, but you can move back if you skip over a color you like, using the small button. To dim the light, hold the small button; to increase the brightness, hold the large button.
You can swap the Varmblixt bases
A cool feature of all Varmblixt lamps is that the base and glass shades are swappable. So, potentially, I could move the smart base to my existing orange shade, a huge boon for smart home aficionados who want to turn on the Varmblixt with their smart home hub.
How does the new Varmblixt look?
While the OG Varmblixt lamp embraced the warm, orange tones, the new smart version is notably cooler. The matte white shade is quite stark and bright, so to warm it up, adjust the color toward orange or red hues.
Credit: IKEA
The color palette of the Varmblixt is not as extensive as you'll find in other smart light bulbs that let you choose from millions of hues. The IKEA colors are preprogrammed and tend to be cooler pastel shades. It's a definite departure from the warmth of the original Varmblixt. Luckily, if you're not into the cool pastels, the OG orange lamp is available.
Will I be swapping the new Varmblixt for the old?
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The new smart Varmblixt lamp is a fun progression in the lamp's lineup, but will I be swapping out my own? Probably not. We're not big into smart home in my house, so I don't get the benefit of its Matter connectivity. And while I like the new colors, I still prefer the OG's warm orange shade that adds an ambient glow to my house. While I could see myself incorporating the new smart Varmblixt elsewhere in my home, it's not going to take the OG's spotlight.
Do I think the new light is worth it? Certainly. Especially for those excited about its smart home potential.
Reddit has finally (mostly) killed r/all.
The internet's home page confirmed in a site update changelog that all links to the r/all feed now redirect to the main Reddit home feed.
"As part of ongoing efforts to simplify Reddit and improve Home feed personalization, the final steps to deprecate r/all are being implemented. All links to r/all will now redirect to the Home feed, following the prior removal of r/all entry points. Trending content remains available via r/popular," the changelog reads.
For those who don't know, for years, r/all has been a way for users to see a "less filtered" list of the most popular posts on the site than the r/popular feed, per Reddit itself. On r/all, sexually explicit posts would be filtered out, but other NSFW content would make it in, and users had the ability to filter out communities they didn't want to see from the feed.
In order to simplify things, Reddit decided to end r/all and have users focus on their home feeds instead, which is personalized for each user. This algorithm-based, curated feed will be the new homepage for the homepage of the internet.
This may end up being a sore spot for longtime Redditors, but there is good news for holdouts: r/all continues to exist on Old Reddit, the officially supported old-school version of the site that works like it did prior to all the big recent redesigns.
On ye olde Reddit, you can still experience r/all as you always did. Reddit hasn't taken that away…yet.
Of course, that doesn't help users of the mobile app, so maybe r/all will have to be a home-computer-only experience.
This is a big sea change for Reddit, but it's not entirely a surprise if you've been following the news. Reddit announced its intentions to deprecate r/all back in December. The only strange thing is that, last year, Reddit's CEO also said r/popular would be going away, per The Verge. Something must have changed, though, as r/popular remains while r/all is mostly dead.
SAVE 25%: As of April 3, you can get the Dyson PencilVac for $449.99, down from $599.99. That's a 25% discount or $150 savings.
If you've been looking for a vacuum that takes the term "stick vacuum" literally, the ultra-slim and aptly named Dyson PencilVac features a 1.5-inch handle that fits right into the palm of your hand.
Right now, you can get the Dyson PencilVac at Amazon for $449.99, down from $599.99. That's a 25% discount or a $150 price cut. It's also the lowest price we've seen this model go for, according to our trusty price-tracking tool CamelCamelCamel. (Prime members can also take advantage of free returns and fast delivery.)
Mashable's Senior Shopping Reporter and vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says the Dyson PencilVac "is a stick vacuum in the most literal sense of the term." It's super lightweight (less than four pounds), and the motor, battery, and dustbin are built completely flush into the wand. It also features these cool "Fluffycones" that actively strip long hair from the brush roll so it doesn't get tangled — though it doesn't come with a mini motorized pet tool. However, it more than makes up for it with its dual-laser action that lights up hidden dust and crumbs on your hard floors.
SAVE $500: The 55-inch Samsung OLED 4K S85F Series TV is on sale for $897.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $1,397.99. That's a 36% discount.
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The Amazon Big Spring Sale has come and gone, but Amazon forgot to turn off the discounts on TVs. We're still seeing many models sitting at their sale price two days later, but we're not mad. Baseball season is here, after all, and if you could use an upgrade to watch this year's games, check out this Samsung deal.
As of April 2, the 55-inch Samsung OLED 4K S85F Series TV is on sale at Amazon for $897.99, down from the list price of $1,397.99. That's a 36% discount that takes $500 off the price.
With 4K resolution, dynamic brightness, and excellent contrast, the 55-inch Samsung OLED TV will be a welcomed addition to your home's entertainment setup. Samsung mentions this model uses the brand's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor to ensure each scene has optimal brightness. Samsung also tapped into the color experts at Pantone to make sure skin tones were realistic and accurate.
When it comes to watching sports on the 55-inch Samsung OLED, the 120Hz Motion Xcelerator brings smoothness to quick movements. Plus, Samsung used object tracking sound technology which allows sound to follow objects on screen, giving a more life-like experience.
In addition to today's sale price, Amazon is tossing in free delivery and unpacking service, which usually costs $29.99. This means delivery will come to the room of your choice with unboxing and packaging removal.
Upgrade to the 55-inch Samsung OLED 4K S85F Series TV while it's still sitting at the sale price we saw earlier this week at Amazon's Big Spring Sale sale. You'll be saving $500 that can be used for your favorite streaming services in the future.
Reddit r/all takes another step into the grave
Dysons double-laser, ultra-light PencilVac just hit a record-low price at Amazon
This 55-inch Samsung OLED 4K TV is under $900 at Amazon — save $500
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