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Dongles · Head to head

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 vs Smlight SLZB-MRW10

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Aeotec and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
If your setup needs Zigbee and Thread as well as Z-Wave, the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 wins this matchup over the Aeotec Z-Stick 7, which is Z-Wave only.
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
$100.00
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
The Smlight carries a Z-Wave Series 800 controller plus Zigbee and Thread radios, a Bluetooth proxy and a fully supported dual-network mode, and it connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the smaller, simpler Z-Wave 700 stick, and it holds its own for a pure Z-Wave home with easy migration from an older Z-Stick, though it ships with firmware that usually needs updating before use and a plastic connector that feels flimsy. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 to consolidate Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave in one network-placed gateway, and the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 if Z-Wave is all you run.
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FeatureAeotec Z-Stick 7Smlight SLZB-MRW10Winner
Price$39.99$100.00Aeotec Z-Stick 7
Rating4.55.0Smlight SLZB-MRW10
PowerUSBUSB, PoESmlight SLZB-MRW10
ConnectivityUSBUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Zigbee RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Thread Border RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Transmit Power+9.3dBm+20dBmSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Dual NetworkNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Bluetooth ProxyNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Z-Wave Chip ModelZG14EFR32ZG23Different strengths
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Z-Wave ControllerYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Protocols

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 covers Z-Wave, Zigbee and Thread with a Bluetooth proxy. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is Z-Wave only, so Zigbee or Thread devices would need separate hardware.

Z-Wave generation

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 uses a Z-Wave Series 800 controller and the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 a Series 700. The newer generation brings better range and battery behaviour, so the Smlight has the edge on the Z-Wave radio itself.

Placement

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, so it can sit centrally. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a USB stick that stays with the host.

Setup and firmware

The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 usually needs a firmware update before use, and US units may arrive on the EU frequency, a technical step owners describe as fiddly. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 has no such requirement, though its dimensions are not documented.

Size and price

The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is tiny at 3.5 g and a fraction the size of the Smlight SLZB-MRW10, and it is the cheaper of the two. If you only need Z-Wave, that compactness and price are real advantages.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Aeotec Z-Stick 7 owners praise its reliability and its fit with Home Assistant. It is detected instantly through Z-Wave JS after the firmware update, runs for years with mixed-brand sensors, locks and garage openers without dropouts, and migrates an existing Z-Wave network via backup and restore. They also find it snappier than older 500 Series sticks, with good range across floors. The recurring frustrations are the shipping firmware and the build: units often arrive with old, buggy firmware and, in the US, set to the EU frequency that must be changed, the two-step update can take hours and has bricked a stick, and the plastic USB connector feels cheap and can loosen.

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-MRW10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Aeotec Z-Stick 7 or Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 is the more capable device for a mixed home, covering Z-Wave, Zigbee and Thread with a newer Series 800 controller and Ethernet placement. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is the better buy for a Z-Wave-only setup, smaller, cheaper and proven, as long as you update its shipping firmware.

What is the biggest difference between the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

Protocol coverage and position. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 handles Z-Wave plus Zigbee and Thread and can sit on the network, while the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is a USB Z-Wave-only stick. The Smlight also uses a newer Series 800 Z-Wave generation.

Do the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 both work with Home Assistant?

Yes. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 works through Z-Wave JS or Z-Wave JS UI and also runs on openHAB and ioBroker, and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 works with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT. The Smlight adds Ethernet placement and a Bluetooth proxy.

Does the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 do Z-Wave better than the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?

It uses a newer Z-Wave Series 800 controller against the Aeotec's Series 700, so the Smlight has the more recent generation. Both are region-locked, so each must match your country's Z-Wave frequency to talk to existing devices.

Who should buy the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?

A Z-Wave-only home that wants a tiny, proven controller with easy migration from an older Aeotec stick, and is prepared to update the firmware before adding devices.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

A home running Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave that wants one network-placed gateway, a Bluetooth proxy, a dual-network mode and a newer Z-Wave 800 radio.

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