Smlight SLZB-06 vs Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24

The Smlight SLZB-06 is the more capable coordinator overall because it adds Ethernet, PoE and Wi-Fi connectivity plus a Bluetooth proxy, and its +5dBi antenna slightly beats the Sonoff's +4.5dBi. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is cheaper, higher-rated and truly plug-and-play, so it wins for a simple, affordable USB setup.

Connectivity and extras. The SLZB-06 is a network coordinator (Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi and USB) with a Bluetooth proxy, while the Dongle Plus MG24 is a USB-only stick with a fixed antenna. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators for Home Assistant that also do Thread; neither supports Z-Wave.

The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the more hands-off option, recognized instantly by Home Assistant with no firmware flash and a USB extension cable in the box. The Smlight SLZB-06 takes a bit more setup for network connection, but rewards you with central placement and Bluetooth proxy support.

Buy the Smlight SLZB-06 if you want to place the coordinator centrally over Ethernet or PoE for better range and stability, and you want a Bluetooth proxy and Thread border router in the same unit. It is the more flexible, feature-rich choice.

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 if you want a cheaper, well-rated, truly plug-and-play USB Zigbee coordinator on the modern EFR32MG24 chip. It ships with a USB extension cable, runs dozens of devices reliably, and can be flashed as a dedicated Thread border router.