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Dongles · Head to head

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

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Smlight sites.
2026 verdict
If your Home Assistant setup needs Z-Wave alongside Zigbee and Thread, one device can cover all three: the Smlight SLZB-MRW10.
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
$100.00
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It beats the official Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 on nearly every spec that is not price, adding a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, a Zigbee router role, a Bluetooth proxy and dual network mode for running Zigbee and Thread together, on top of Ethernet with PoE and two external antennas instead of one. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 answers only with a lower price, and it keeps the advantage of being the official Nabu Casa hardware, recognized automatically by Home Assistant with essentially no setup. Both coordinate Zigbee 3.0, border Thread and work with Zigbee2MQTT. Buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 to consolidate Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and Bluetooth onto one PoE box, and the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 for the simplest official radio when Z-Wave is not part of the plan.
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FeatureNabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2Smlight SLZB-MRW10Winner
Price$65.00$100.00Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Rating4.75.0Smlight SLZB-MRW10
PowerUSBUSB, PoESmlight SLZB-MRW10
ConnectivityUSBUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Zigbee RouterNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Z-Wave ControllerNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Transmit Power+10dBm+20dBmSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Antenna Gain+4.16dBi+5dBSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Dual NetworkNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Bluetooth ProxyNOYESSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Zigbee Chip ModelEFR32MG24CC2652P10Different strengths
Warranty1 year1 yearTie

What the differences mean

Z-Wave

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 includes a Z-Wave Series 800 controller. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 has no Z-Wave radio.

Running Zigbee and Thread together

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 supports dual network mode, so its Zigbee and Thread radios run at the same time. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 runs Zigbee or Thread, one at a time, never both together.

Connection options

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is USB only.

Bluetooth proxy

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 relays Bluetooth sensor signals to Home Assistant over the network. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 does not act as a Bluetooth proxy.

Price

The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 costs less than the Smlight SLZB-MRW10, which is the one place it comes out ahead.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 owners describe the setup as seamless, especially paired with a Home Assistant Green, where the dongle is recognized and configured automatically with no manual steps, and even a VM only needs a USB passthrough before pairing starts. Range earns strong praise too, with the external antenna covering large homes, one owner reaching a device across a home with no repeaters, and reliability several call better than their previous dongle. Owners also like switching the same hardware between Zigbee and Thread as needed. Their complaints center on price, since it costs noticeably more than a budget dongle, on Thread setup that trips up some users configuring the OpenThread Border Router, and on running Zigbee or Thread but never both from the same unit.

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.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 or the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 does more, adding Z-Wave, dual network mode and a Bluetooth proxy. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is the simpler, cheaper official Home Assistant radio when Z-Wave is not needed.

Can the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 run Zigbee and Thread at once?

No, it runs one or the other, not both simultaneously. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 supports dual network mode, so its Zigbee and Thread radios operate at the same time.

What is the biggest difference between the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

Radio count. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 adds Z-Wave and a Bluetooth proxy to Zigbee and Thread, all over Ethernet, PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 covers Zigbee or Thread over USB only.

Is the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 easier to set up?

Yes, as Nabu Casa's own hardware it is recognized automatically by Home Assistant, especially with Home Assistant Green. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 needs a bit more configuration for its extra radios.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

Home Assistant users who need Z-Wave alongside Zigbee and Thread, or who want a Bluetooth proxy and PoE placement in the same box.

Who should buy the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2?

Home Assistant users who want the official, plug-and-play radio for Zigbee or Thread and do not need Z-Wave or dual network mode.

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