Aeotec Z-Stick 7 vs Smlight SLZB-07 MG24

It comes down to protocol. The Smlight SLZB-07 MG24 wins on features for Zigbee networks, with router mode, Thread border router support and a higher amplifier gain. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the more affordable, higher-rated choice, but only if Z-Wave is what you need, since it has no Zigbee coordinator or router built in.

The Z-Stick 7 is a dedicated Z-Wave 700 Series controller with no Zigbee, Thread or Matter support whatsoever. The SLZB-07 MG24 flips that entirely: it is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router that also functions as a Thread border router, but it has no Z-Wave controller at all.

The Smlight SLZB-07 MG24 has the edge in amplifier gain over the Z-Stick 7, helped by its external antenna. The Z-Stick 7 still covers multi-floor homes reasonably well for Z-Wave, and a USB extension cable can help if its signal runs marginal.

No, neither one does both. The Z-Stick 7 is Z-Wave only, and the SLZB-07 MG24 is Zigbee and Thread only. If you need both protocols from a single stick, look at Aeotec's own Z-Stick 10 Pro instead, which combines Z-Wave and Zigbee radios.

Home Assistant, openHAB or ioBroker users who run Z-Wave devices and want a proven, well-reviewed, budget-friendly controller should choose the Z-Stick 7, as long as they are willing to update its shipping firmware first.

Buyers building or extending a Zigbee network, especially ones who also want Thread border router capability for Matter devices, should choose the SLZB-07 MG24 over the Z-Wave-only Z-Stick 7.