Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 vs Smlight SLZB-07P10 comparison

Data from Amazon and official Nabu Casa and Smlight sites.

2026 verdict

The Smlight SLZB-07P10 wins this dongle comparison as the more affordable pick that brings Zigbee and Thread to the table, along with Zigbee router use, none of which the Z-Wave-only Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 provides. It is a compact but high-power USB Zigbee coordinator on the Texas Instruments CC2652P10 chip that owners find no-drama with Home Assistant once its firmware is flashed. The two radios cover different protocols, so they are not interchangeable: the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a dedicated Z-Wave 800 controller with a higher owner rating and a slightly stronger antenna at +3.38dBi against +3dB, and it delivers the standout Z-Wave range Nabu Casa is known for. Both are USB radios for Home Assistant. Go with the Smlight SLZB-07P10 for a cheap, powerful Zigbee/Thread coordinator; go with the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 for dependable Z-Wave.

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Feature	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2	Smlight SLZB-07P10	Winner
Price	$79.00	$48.99	Smlight SLZB-07P10
Rating	4.5	3.0	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Zigbee Router	NO	YES	Smlight SLZB-07P10
Z-Wave Controller	YES	NO	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Thread Border Router	NO	YES	Smlight SLZB-07P10
Antenna Gain	+3.38dBi	+3dB	Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2
Warranty	1 year	1 year	Tie
Power	USB	USB	Tie
Connectivity	USB	USB	Tie
Matter Bridge	NO	NO	Tie
Amplifier Gain	+20dB	+20dB	Tie
Dual Network	NO	NO	Tie

Nabu Casa

Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2

$79.00

Buy on Amazon USA

+ Rating: 4.5
+ Z-Wave Controller: YES
+ Antenna Gain: +3.38dBi
- Price: $79.00 vs $48.99
- Zigbee Router: NO vs YES

Winner

Smlight

Smlight SLZB-07P10

$48.99

Buy on Amazon USA

+ Price: $48.99
+ Zigbee Router: YES
+ Thread Border Router: YES
- Rating: 3.0 vs 4.5
- Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I pick the Smlight SLZB-07P10 or the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2?

Pick by protocol. The Smlight SLZB-07P10 is a Zigbee and Thread coordinator, so it suits Zigbee networks, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a Z-Wave-only controller for Z-Wave gear. They do not compete on the same devices.

What separates these two dongles?

Protocol. The Smlight SLZB-07P10 does Zigbee (and can flash to Thread) and acts as a Zigbee router, while the Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 does Z-Wave 800 only, with no Zigbee or Thread.

Is either harder to set up?

The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is effectively plug-and-play as official Home Assistant hardware. The Smlight SLZB-07P10 usually needs a firmware flash before use, which is easy for a technical user but can trip up beginners, especially for Thread.

Which has the stronger antenna?

The Nabu Casa Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2, marginally, at +3.38dBi against the SLZB-07P10's +3dB. Both use an external antenna with a +20dB-class amplifier, so range is strong within each protocol.

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

Buy the ZWA-2 if you run Z-Wave and want a highly rated, official controller with excellent range and fully local control via Z-Wave JS. It has no Zigbee or Thread.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-07P10?

Buy the Smlight SLZB-07P10 for an affordable, high-power USB Zigbee coordinator (and optional Thread radio) for Home Assistant that can also serve as a router. Be ready to flash firmware before first use. It has no Z-Wave.

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