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Dongles · Head to head

Smlight SLZB-06 vs Sonoff ZBDongle-E

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Ethernet box or USB stick? The Smlight SLZB-06 is the stronger Zigbee coordinator here, since it connects over Ethernet with PoE, Wi-Fi or USB and adds Thread and a Bluetooth proxy.
Smlight SLZB-06
Winner
Smlight SLZB-06
$72.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
That means the radio can sit centrally on one network cable, act as a Thread border router, and relay BLE sensors to Home Assistant, on top of a +5 dBi antenna against 2 dBi on the Sonoff. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the lower priced option with a two-year warranty against one, and it is a proven, plug-in USB coordinator on the Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 that works with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT from the first boot. Pick the Smlight SLZB-06 if your server sits in a bad spot for radio or you want Thread, and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E for a simple, low cost Zigbee network plugged into the Home Assistant host.
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FeatureSmlight SLZB-06Sonoff ZBDongle-EWinner
Price$72.99$24.90Sonoff ZBDongle-E
Rating4.24.7Sonoff ZBDongle-E
Warranty1 year2 yearsSonoff ZBDongle-E
PowerUSB, PoEUSBSmlight SLZB-06
ConnectivityUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiUSBSmlight SLZB-06
Thread Border RouterYESNOSmlight SLZB-06
Antenna Gain+5dB+2dBiSmlight SLZB-06
Bluetooth ProxyYESNOSmlight SLZB-06
Zigbee Chip ModelCC2652PEFR32MG21Different strengths
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie
Z-Wave ControllerNONOTie
Matter BridgeNONOTie

What the differences mean

Placement

The Smlight SLZB-06 connects over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB, so it can live in the middle of the house. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E plugs into the Home Assistant host, ideally on a USB 2.0 extension cable to move it away from USB 3.0 ports and other interference.

Thread

The Smlight SLZB-06 can also work as a Thread border router for Matter devices. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is Zigbee only.

Bluetooth proxy

Only the Smlight SLZB-06 relays Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant, which saves a separate proxy if you use BLE thermometers or trackers.

Warranty

The Sonoff ZBDongle-E comes with a two-year warranty, twice the one year Smlight gives the SLZB-06.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both coordinators report a Home Assistant setup that just works and Zigbee range they are happy with. Smlight SLZB-06 owners single out central placement over PoE, and several say it stabilised a network that kept dropping devices on cheap USB dongles, the Sonoff ZBDongle-E among them; they complain that the case is large and that a minority of units needed frequent power cycling. Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners describe a stick that ships ready to use, dozens of mixed-brand devices running reliably and an easy way out of a Philips Hue bridge. Their main advice is a USB 2.0 extension cable to keep it clear of interference, and a few mention trouble pairing specific Aqara sensors.

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
  • Sonoff ZBDongle-E

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Smlight SLZB-06 or Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

The Smlight SLZB-06. It adds Ethernet, PoE and Wi-Fi, a Thread border router, a Bluetooth proxy and a higher gain antenna. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the lower priced USB stick with a two-year warranty, and it is enough for a Zigbee-only network plugged into the Home Assistant host.

Do the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E work with Zigbee2MQTT?

Yes. Both the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E are supported Zigbee2MQTT adapters and also work with Home Assistant's ZHA integration.

What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

The connection. The Smlight SLZB-06 is a network coordinator that runs over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB, while the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is a USB stick that has to sit at the Home Assistant host.

Are the Smlight SLZB-06 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E made by the same company?

No. The Smlight SLZB-06 is made by SMLIGHT and runs a Texas Instruments CC2652P, while the Sonoff ZBDongle-E is made by Sonoff and runs a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06?

Home Assistant users with a PoE switch or a badly placed server, and anyone who wants a Zigbee coordinator that can also serve Thread and relay Bluetooth sensors.

Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

Anyone starting a Zigbee network on a budget, or replacing a brand bridge, who is fine with a USB stick on an extension cable next to the Home Assistant host.

Full comparison table

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