Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 vs Smlight SLZB-MRW10

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 is the stronger all-rounder because it combines a Zigbee coordinator, a Z-Wave 800 controller and a Thread border router in a single unit, plus Ethernet, Wi-Fi and PoE. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is Zigbee-or-Thread only and USB-only, so it wins mainly on price and its official Home Assistant integration.

Protocol coverage. The SLZB-MRW10 does Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread at once and supports dual-network operation and a Bluetooth proxy, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 runs Zigbee or Thread (not both simultaneously), has no Z-Wave, and no Bluetooth proxy.

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 connects over USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE, so you can place it centrally away from the server for better range. The ZBT-2 is USB-only, meaning it plugs into your Home Assistant host directly.

The SLZB-MRW10 carries two external antennas rated +5dBi with a +20dBi amplifier, versus one antenna at +4.16dBi on the ZBT-2. That, plus its PoE placement freedom, gives it the edge for covering a large home.

Buy the ZBT-2 if you run Home Assistant, only need Zigbee or Thread, and want the most affordable, plug-and-play official radio, especially with Home Assistant Green where it is recognized automatically. It has no Z-Wave and no network connectivity, so accept those limits.

Buy the SLZB-MRW10 if you want one device to run Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread together, place the coordinator anywhere via Ethernet or PoE, and get a Bluetooth proxy in the bargain. It costs more, but it replaces multiple separate sticks.