Smlight SLZB-06 vs Sonoff Dongle Max

The Sonoff Dongle Max is the better overall pick for most buyers: it is cheaper, better-rated and adds a dual-network mode, while still offering USB, Ethernet and PoE placement. The Smlight SLZB-06 stays worthwhile mainly for its Bluetooth proxy, which the Dongle Max does not provide.

Feature mix. The Dongle Max adds a dual-network mode (still experimental) on a newer EFR32MG24 radio with two +5dBi antennas, while the SLZB-06 adds a Bluetooth proxy on a TI CC2652P with one antenna. Both connect over USB, Ethernet or PoE, both do Thread, and neither supports Z-Wave.

Only the Smlight SLZB-06. It can act as a Bluetooth proxy for Home Assistant in addition to its Zigbee coordinator role, which the Sonoff Dongle Max does not do. If you want your coordinator to also relay Bluetooth, the SLZB-06 is the one that offers it.

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Max if you want the better-rated, more affordable network coordinator with USB, Ethernet and PoE placement and an optional dual-network mode. It suits larger homes where you need to mount the radio away from the host to cover distant rooms.

Buy the Smlight SLZB-06 if you want a network-placed Zigbee coordinator that also serves as a Bluetooth proxy and Thread border router, with a long track record of stabilizing flaky meshes. It is the pick when the Bluetooth proxy feature matters to you.