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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro vs Smlight SLZB-06

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
Mounted in a hallway on a single PoE cable, the Smlight SLZB-06 covers more ground than the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro, so it takes this coordinator comparison on connectivity and extra roles.
Smlight SLZB-06
Winner
Smlight SLZB-06
$72.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It connects over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB, adds a +5 dBi external antenna, and can run as a Zigbee router, a Thread border router or a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the cheaper of the two and has a trick the Smlight cannot match: a Z-Wave 800 controller and a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator on one USB stick, with +20 dBm of transmit power. Both work with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT and carry a 1 year warranty. Pick the Smlight SLZB-06 for a Zigbee network placed away from the server, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro if you need Z-Wave and Zigbee from a single USB port.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 10 ProSmlight SLZB-06Winner
Price$59.99$72.99Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
Rating4.54.2Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
PowerUSBUSB, PoESmlight SLZB-06
ConnectivityUSBUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiSmlight SLZB-06
Zigbee RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-06
Z-Wave ControllerYESNOAeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
Thread Border RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-06
Bluetooth ProxyNOYESSmlight SLZB-06
Zigbee Chip ModelEFR32MG21CC2652PDifferent strengths
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie
Transmit Power+20dBm+20dBmTie

What the differences mean

Z-Wave

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro includes a Z-Wave Series 800 controller next to its Zigbee radio. The Smlight SLZB-06 has no Z-Wave at all, so a Z-Wave network would need a second device.

Placement

The Smlight SLZB-06 connects over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB and can sit wherever a cable reaches. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a 49 mm USB stick that lives on the host.

Thread and Bluetooth

The Smlight SLZB-06 can switch to Thread border router mode and doubles as a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro supports neither Thread nor Matter.

Zigbee chip

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro uses a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 and the Smlight SLZB-06 a Texas Instruments CC2652P. Both run Zigbee 3.0 with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT; the chip matters mainly if you are migrating an existing network built on one family.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Both groups of owners report rock-solid, cloud-free operation with Home Assistant once set up, and both praise range. Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners single out consolidating Z-Wave and Zigbee on one stick, Long Range Z-Wave reaching a detached shed and quick migration from an older Z-Stick, while they complain that Zigbee needs a firmware update first, that the update guide is Windows only and that the pairing button can break. Smlight SLZB-06 owners talk about placing the coordinator centrally on PoE, which stabilised a flaky Zigbee network, and pushing firmware updates from inside Home Assistant; their complaints are its size next to a dongle and, for a minority, errors that needed frequent power cycling.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro
  • Smlight SLZB-06

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Smlight SLZB-06?

The Smlight SLZB-06 wins on connectivity and roles: PoE, Ethernet and Wi-Fi, Thread border router and Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is cheaper and is the one to buy if you also need Z-Wave, since it pairs a Z-Wave 800 controller with a Zigbee coordinator.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Smlight SLZB-06?

The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a USB stick with Z-Wave and Zigbee radios; the Smlight SLZB-06 is a network-connected Zigbee and Thread coordinator with no Z-Wave.

Does the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro support Thread or Matter?

No. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro covers Z-Wave and Zigbee only. The Smlight SLZB-06 can switch to Thread border router mode for Matter over Thread devices.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?

Home Assistant users with both Z-Wave and Zigbee devices who want one reliable USB stick for both, and are fine running a firmware update before Zigbee starts.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06?

Zigbee users who want the coordinator away from the server on PoE or Ethernet, with Thread and Bluetooth proxy options in the same box.

Full comparison table

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