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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 vs Smlight SLZB-MR5U

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
In a Matter-ready home that wants Zigbee and Thread running together, the Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a far more capable radio than the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 controller.
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
$119.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It carries two Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 radios with dual network mode, connects over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB, and adds Zigbee router, Thread border router and Bluetooth proxy roles with two external antennas. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the cheaper one and answers a different need: it is a small USB Z-Wave Series 700 controller, and the Smlight has no Z-Wave. The Smlight is also a new model with very little owner feedback so far, while the Aeotec has years of use behind it. Pick the Smlight SLZB-MR5U for Zigbee plus Thread on one PoE box, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 for Z-Wave locks and sensors.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 7Smlight SLZB-MR5UWinner
Price$39.99$119.99Aeotec Z-Stick 7
Rating4.55.0Smlight SLZB-MR5U
PowerUSBUSB, PoESmlight SLZB-MR5U
ConnectivityUSBUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Zigbee RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Z-Wave ControllerYESNOAeotec Z-Stick 7
Thread Border RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Transmit Power+9.3dBm+20dBmSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Dual NetworkNOYESSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Bluetooth ProxyNOYESSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie

What the differences mean

Protocol

The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 controls Z-Wave. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee 3.0 and Thread and has no Z-Wave. Check which one your devices use before comparing anything else.

Zigbee and Thread at once

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has two radios, so it can run a Zigbee network and a Thread border router for Matter devices at the same time instead of choosing one.

Placement

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U connects over Ethernet with PoE, Wi-Fi or USB and can sit centrally. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a 37 mm USB stick on the host, where owners sometimes add an extension cable.

Track record

The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 has a long history with Home Assistant, openHAB and ioBroker. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a 2026 release with almost no independent experience yet.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 owners describe a stick that, once set up, runs for years without dropouts across a dozen or more mixed-brand Z-Wave sensors, locks and garage openers, responds faster than older 500-series sticks and migrates an existing network through Z-Wave JS backup and restore. Their complaints are consistent: units ship with old, buggy firmware (and, in the US, set to the EU frequency), the two-step update can take hours or brick the stick, the plastic USB connector feels flimsy, and a few owners hit pairing trouble with some S2 locks or needed a USB extension cable for range.

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 7
  • Smlight SLZB-MR5U

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Aeotec Z-Stick 7 or Smlight SLZB-MR5U?

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has far more features: two EFR32MG24 radios running Zigbee and Thread together, PoE and Ethernet, Bluetooth proxy and router roles. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is cheaper and is the one to buy for Z-Wave, which the Smlight does not support.

Is the Smlight SLZB-MR5U a Thread border router?

Yes. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U works as a Thread border router, and thanks to dual network mode it can do it while also running a Zigbee network. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 has no Thread support.

Does the Smlight SLZB-MR5U support Z-Wave?

No. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U covers Zigbee and Thread only. Z-Wave devices need a controller such as the Aeotec Z-Stick 7.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?

Home Assistant, openHAB or ioBroker users with Z-Wave devices who want a small, proven controller and will update its firmware before use.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?

Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT users who want Zigbee and Matter over Thread from one PoE box and accept that the model is too new for much owner feedback.

Full comparison table

Compare all 36 Dongles side by side

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