Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
If you want a Zigbee and Thread coordinator that lives on the network, the Smlight SLZB-MR5U wins this matchup over the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro.
It uses two EFR32MG24 radios to run Zigbee and Thread at once, adds a Bluetooth proxy, and connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is a USB-only stick that pairs Zigbee with Z-Wave instead of Thread. The Aeotec still wins on price and on the Z-Wave 800 controller the Smlight lacks, and both put +20 dBm of transmit power behind their radios. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MR5U for a network-placed Zigbee and Thread coordinator with a Bluetooth proxy, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro if you need Z-Wave and Zigbee from one USB stick.
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| Feature | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro | Smlight SLZB-MR5U | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $119.99 | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro |
| Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Power | USB | USB, PoE | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Connectivity | USB | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Zigbee Router | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Z-Wave Controller | YES | NO | Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro |
| Thread Border Router | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Dual Network | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Bluetooth Proxy | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG21 | EFR32MG24 | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol pair
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee and Thread together on two radios. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro combines Zigbee and Z-Wave instead, so it suits a Z-Wave home but cannot border-route Thread.
Placement
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, so it can sit centrally. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is USB-only and stays with the host.
Bluetooth proxy
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U relays Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant over the network. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro does not act as a Bluetooth proxy, so BLE devices need another adapter.
Z-Wave
Only the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro includes a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, which is the reason to pick it over the Smlight if your devices are Z-Wave. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has no Z-Wave at all.
Antennas and price
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses two external antennas at +5 dBi gain, the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro runs +20 dBm with no external antenna. The Aeotec is the cheaper of the two and the more compact.
Which one to buy if
- you run Zigbee and Thread together
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U keeps each on its own radio and can border-route Thread, which the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro does not.
- your devices include Z-Wave
The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro has a Z-Wave 800 controller the Smlight lacks, so it is the one that talks to Z-Wave locks and sensors.
- the coordinator has to reach a far corner
Ethernet with PoE lets the Smlight SLZB-MR5U go where the USB-only Aeotec cannot.
- you want Bluetooth sensors on the network
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a Bluetooth proxy, which the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is not.
- + Price: $59.99
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Rating: 4.5 vs 5.0
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
Winner
$119.99
- + Rating: 5.0
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- - Price: $119.99 vs $59.99
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
What owners say
Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro owners prize getting both networks in one stick. It runs on Home Assistant across HA Yellow, Raspberry Pi 5, Proxmox, Docker and N100 mini-PCs with Z-Wave JS and Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, and once configured it holds for months without random disconnects. They single out the range from Z-Wave Long Range and +20 dBm, reaching a detached shed without extra repeaters, and the quick migration from an older Z-Stick via Home Assistant backups. Their friction points are setup-related: a firmware update needed before Zigbee works, a Windows-only firmware guide that leaves Linux and Mac users on their own, a pairing button that can break, and USB passthrough that needs configuring in virtual machines.
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-MR5U
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro or Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is the better fit for Zigbee and Thread, running both at once with Ethernet placement and a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro is the better pick when Z-Wave is in the mix, since it includes a Z-Wave 800 controller the Smlight does not, at a lower price.
What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
The second protocol and the position. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U pairs Zigbee with Thread and connects over Ethernet, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro pairs Zigbee with Z-Wave from a USB port. Both use +20 dBm of transmit power.
Does the Smlight SLZB-MR5U support Z-Wave?
No. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a Zigbee and Thread coordinator with a Bluetooth proxy, but it has no Z-Wave radio. A Z-Wave home needs a controller like the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro.
Do both run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
Only the Smlight SLZB-MR5U, which has two dedicated EFR32MG24 radios. The Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro combines Zigbee with Z-Wave and has no Thread support, so it runs one Zigbee 3.0 radio alongside its Z-Wave controller.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
A Home Assistant home running Zigbee and Thread that wants both on dedicated radios, the coordinator off the server, and Bluetooth sensors relayed without an extra adapter.
Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 10 Pro?
A Home Assistant user with Z-Wave and Zigbee devices who wants both from one compact USB stick at a lower price, and does not need Thread, Bluetooth or Ethernet placement.
Full comparison table
Compare all 36 Dongles side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Dongles in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 36 Dongles
- 32 specs compared
- 29 filters
SmlightSLZB-MRW10
$100.00
SmlightSLZB-06 U
$72.99
SmlightSLZB-MR3
€158.13
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
$119.99
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99
SonoffZBDongle-E
$24.90
SonoffDongle Plus MG24
$35.90
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.47
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SmlightSLZB-MR2
€111.97
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
AeotecZ-Stick 7
$39.99
- DonglesAeotec
Z-Stick 10 Pro
4.5(182)$59.99 - DonglesAeotec
Z-Stick 7
4.5(256)$39.99 
DonglesAeotecZi-Stick
4.0(26)14% OFF$34.95$29.95
Door & Window SensorsAeotecDoor Window Sensor 7
4.2(47)$34.99
Door & Window SensorsAeotecMultipurpose Sensor
4.5(366)$38.99
Door & Window SensorsAeotecRecessed Door Sensor 7
3.8(353)5% OFF$39.99$37.99
Energy MonitorsAeotecHome Energy Meter 8
4.2(24)$95.99
HubsAeotecSmart Home Hub 2
3.9(42)$129.99
HubsAeotecSmart Home Hub
4.2(2,139)$159.99
Motion SensorsAeotecMotion Sensor
4.6(422)$48.99
Motion SensorsAeotecMultiSensor 7
3.8(112)29% OFF$69.99$49.99
Motion SensorsAeotecTriSensor 8
3.6(38)$39.99
PlugsAeotecSmart Switch 7
4.1(115)$69.94
RelaysAeotecPico Duo Switch
3.8(4)$34.95
RelaysAeotecPico Switch
3.6(13)$34.95
SirensAeotecSiren 6
3.4(380)50% OFF$79.99$39.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecaerQ Temperature & Humidity Sensor
3.5(173)14% OFF$35.99$30.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecMultipurpose Sensor
4.5(366)$38.99
Temperature & Humidity SensorsAeotecTriSensor 8
3.6(38)$39.99
Wall SwitchesAeotecIllumino Dimmer Switch
3.6(25)23% OFF$47.99$36.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG24
4.5(6)$82.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG26
3.4(7)$84.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06 U
5.0(5)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06
4.2(182)$72.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06M
4.6(111)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06P10
4.4(11)$85.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06p7
4.4(11)$79.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06p7U
4.6(33)$78.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG24
3.3(5)$45.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG26
4.5(86)- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07
4.9(20)$34.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07P10
3.0(1)$48.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07p7
4.8(8)$36.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR1
4.4(11)$103.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR1U
4.8(16)$102.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR2
4.6(8)€111.97 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR3
5.0(1)€158.13 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR4
4.0(5)$130.00- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR5U
5.0(1)$119.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MRW10
5.0(11)$100.00