Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight site.
2026 verdict
On paper the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U look like the same class of coordinator; in practice the Smlight SLZB-MR5U carries two radios and a real dual-network mode.
It runs Zigbee and Thread together on two EFR32MG24 radios and adds a Bluetooth proxy, while the Smlight SLZB-06 uses a single CC2652P and switches between Zigbee and Thread rather than running both. Both connect over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, both reach +20 dBm of transmit power and both work with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT. The Smlight SLZB-06 is the cheaper of the two and the one owners credit with curing flaky meshes. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MR5U for Zigbee and Thread at once, and the Smlight SLZB-06 for pure Zigbee at a lower price.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-06 | Smlight SLZB-MR5U | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $72.99 | $119.99 | Smlight SLZB-06 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 5.0 | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Dual Network | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Zigbee Chip Model | CC2652P | EFR32MG24 | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Power | USB, PoE | USB, PoE | Tie |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | NO | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
What the differences mean
Radios
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has two EFR32MG24 radios and runs Zigbee and Thread together. The Smlight SLZB-06 has one CC2652P and switches between the two protocols, so it serves them one at a time.
Chipset
The Smlight SLZB-06 uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P, the Smlight SLZB-MR5U two Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 radios. A migration path that depends on a TI CC-series stack favors the SLZB-06, which is the one owners report moving a network onto without re-pairing.
Antennas
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U carries two external antennas at +5 dBi gain, the Smlight SLZB-06 one. Both reach +20 dBm of transmit power and both work as a Zigbee coordinator and router.
Bluetooth proxy
Both act as a Bluetooth proxy, so this is not a differentiator. Each relays BLE sensor signals to Home Assistant from wherever the network coordinator is placed.
Price
The Smlight SLZB-06 is the cheaper of the two and the one with the stronger owner record. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U costs more and earns that only if you need Zigbee and Thread running together.
Which one to buy if
- you run Zigbee and Thread at the same time
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U keeps each protocol on its own radio, while the Smlight SLZB-06 switches between them.
- you are migrating an existing TI-based Zigbee mesh
The Smlight SLZB-06 uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P, and owners report moving an existing Zigbee network onto it without re-pairing.
- you only need Zigbee and want to pay less
The Smlight SLZB-06 does the Zigbee job for less, with the same Ethernet, PoE and Bluetooth features that made it a favorite.
- you are adding Matter-over-Thread devices while keeping Zigbee running
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U borders Thread on a second radio without interrupting the Zigbee network.
- + Price: $72.99
- - Rating: 4.2 vs 5.0
- - Dual Network: NO vs YES
Winner
$119.99
- + Rating: 5.0
- + Dual Network: YES
- - Price: $119.99 vs $72.99
What owners say
Smlight SLZB-06 owners describe a coordinator that put their Zigbee network on the network and fixed what USB sticks got wrong. Moving it centrally over Ethernet and PoE is the headline, with owners reporting a flaky mesh turning solid, dozens of devices running with minimal lag, and slick Home Assistant integration, including firmware updates from inside Home Assistant. They value the external antenna range, migrating an existing Zigbee network out of the box, and even running it as a remote coordinator over a Wireguard VPN to serve another location. The cautions are its size next to a tiny dongle, a minority of units needing frequent power-cycling, and PoE requiring a PoE switch.
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.
- Smlight SLZB-06
- Smlight SLZB-MR5U
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Smlight SLZB-06 or Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is the more capable of the two, with two radios running Zigbee and Thread together and a Bluetooth proxy. The Smlight SLZB-06 is the better value for Zigbee alone, cheaper with a longer owner record for fixing unstable meshes and easy migration from TI-based coordinators.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
Whether the two protocols can run together. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has two EFR32MG24 radios and runs Zigbee and Thread simultaneously, while the Smlight SLZB-06 has one CC2652P and switches between them. Both share Ethernet, PoE and Bluetooth proxy features.
Can the Smlight SLZB-06 run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
No. It uses a single radio and switches between Zigbee and Thread from its web interface, so it serves one or the other. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has a dedicated radio for each and runs both at once.
Can I migrate my existing Zigbee network onto the Smlight SLZB-06 or the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
Migrations without re-pairing usually rely on both coordinators sharing a protocol stack. The Smlight SLZB-06 uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P, and owners report moving matching networks onto it. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 radios, so a TI-based migration path does not apply.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06?
A Home Assistant home that runs Zigbee alone, wants the radio on Ethernet or PoE in the middle of the house, and values the lower price and the strong owner record for stabilizing a mesh.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
A home adding Thread and Matter devices to a Zigbee network, where both protocols need to run at once and the radio belongs off the server.
Full comparison table
Compare all 36 Dongles side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Dongles in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 36 Dongles
- 32 specs compared
- 29 filters
SmlightSLZB-MRW10
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SmlightSLZB-06 U
$72.99
SmlightSLZB-MR3
€158.13
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
$119.99
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99
SonoffZBDongle-E
$24.90
SonoffDongle Plus MG24
$35.90
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.45
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SmlightSLZB-MR2
€111.97
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
AeotecZ-Stick 7
$39.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG24
4.5(6)$82.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06 MG26
3.4(7)$84.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06 U
5.0(5)$72.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06
4.2(182)$72.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06M
4.6(111)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06P10
4.4(11)$85.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06p7
4.4(11)$79.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06p7U
4.6(33)$78.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG24
3.3(5)$45.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG26
4.5(86)- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07
4.9(20)$34.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07P10
3.0(1)$48.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-07p7
4.8(8)$36.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR1
4.4(11)$103.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR1U
4.8(16)$102.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR2
4.6(8)€111.97 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR3
5.0(1)€158.13 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR4
4.0(5)$130.00- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR5U
5.0(1)$119.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MRW10
5.0(11)$100.00