Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
If your Zigbee radio has to sit somewhere other than the server, the Smlight SLZB-06M is the coordinator to buy, since it works over Ethernet, PoE, Wi-Fi or USB.
It also adds a Bluetooth proxy and a slightly higher listed antenna gain than the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators and routers with the same +20dBm of amplifier gain, a Thread border router and Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT support. Where the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 pulls ahead is simplicity: a newer EFR32MG24 chip, a USB stick that Home Assistant recognizes with no flashing, and the more affordable price. Take the Smlight SLZB-06M for placement freedom and a networked install, and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 when the server sits in a good spot and you want the simplest, cheapest route.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-06M | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $72.99 | $35.90 | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 | Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 |
| Power | USB, PoE | USB | Smlight SLZB-06M |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | USB | Smlight SLZB-06M |
| Antenna Gain | +5dB | +4.5dBi | Smlight SLZB-06M |
| Bluetooth Proxy | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-06M |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG21 | EFR32MG24 | Different strengths |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | NO | Tie |
| Thread Border Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Where the radio can live
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is USB only, so its antenna sits at the server, extended at most by a cable. The Smlight SLZB-06M adds Ethernet, PoE and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which lets you put it in a central hallway or ceiling and keep the server in a closet.
Antenna
Both list a single external antenna and +20dBm of amplifier gain. The Smlight SLZB-06M lists +5dB against +4.5dBi, a gap too small to hear about in practice (and the units differ, dB against dBi). On the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 the antenna is permanently fixed.
Chip generation
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 uses the newer Silicon Labs EFR32MG24, and the Smlight SLZB-06M the EFR32MG21. Both offer Zigbee 3.0, so this matters more for the newer chip's headroom on large networks than for what your devices can do.
Bluetooth proxy
The Smlight SLZB-06M can also relay Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 has no Bluetooth proxy.
Which one to buy if
- your server lives in a closet, basement or another building
The Smlight SLZB-06M runs over Ethernet or PoE, so the radio does not have to sit next to the server.
- you want plug-and-play with no firmware step
Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 owners describe it as recognized instantly by Home Assistant with no flashing.
- you have a PoE switch and want one cable for data and power
Only the Smlight SLZB-06M supports PoE.
- you want a dedicated Thread border router on a budget
The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 can be flashed as a Thread border router with a web flasher and is the more affordable of the two.
Winner
$72.99
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- + Antenna Gain: +5dB
- - Price: $72.99 vs $35.90
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
$35.90
- + Price: $35.90
- + Rating: 4.7
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
- - Connectivity: USB vs USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
What owners say
Owners of both coordinators talk about the end of dropped Zigbee automations, but for different reasons. Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 owners praise how it is recognized the moment it is plugged into Home Assistant, the cooler and more compact body than the older Sonoff stick, the USB extension cable that moves the antenna away from interference and range that reaches through thick walls. Their gripes are a permanently fixed antenna, no mounting point and a COM-port workaround on Hyper-V. Smlight SLZB-06M owners single out placing the radio on Ethernet or PoE away from the server, and many replaced ConbeeII sticks or brand bridges with it. They say setup assumes some ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT familiarity, and a few saw the Ethernet link drop while USB stayed solid.
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-06M
- Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Smlight SLZB-06M or Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
The Smlight SLZB-06M, thanks to Ethernet, PoE and Wi-Fi connectivity, a Bluetooth proxy and a marginally higher listed antenna gain. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is the better value for a simple USB setup.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-06M and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
How they connect. The Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 is a USB stick only, while the Smlight SLZB-06M can also connect over Ethernet, PoE and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so the radio can be placed away from the server.
Do the Smlight SLZB-06M and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 work with Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant?
Yes. Both are listed as working with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, and both serve as a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator and router and as a Thread border router.
Does the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 or the Smlight SLZB-06M have the stronger radio?
Nearly equal on paper: both list +20dBm of amplifier gain and one external antenna, with the Smlight SLZB-06M at +5dB and the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24 at +4.5dBi (different units, so treat it as a tie). Where you place the radio will matter more than the difference.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06M?
Home Assistant users who want to place the coordinator centrally over Ethernet or PoE, replace an unreliable USB stick, or add a Bluetooth proxy, and who can handle some ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT setup.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Plus MG24?
Users who want a simple, affordable USB Zigbee coordinator that Home Assistant recognizes on its own, with a newer chip, an extension cable in the box and an option to flash it as a Thread border router.
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
$99.99
SmlightSLZB-06 U
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SmlightSLZB-MR3
Unavailable
SmlightSLZB-MR5U
$119.99
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99
SonoffZBDongle-E
$24.90- Sonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
$35.90 
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
Last price$65.00
Unavailable
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.42
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00- Smlight
SLZB-06M
$72.99 
SmlightSLZB-06p7U
$78.99
SonoffDongle Lite MG21
$24.90
AeotecZ-Stick 7
$39.99
AeotecZ-Stick 10 Pro
$59.99
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
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 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06
4.2(184)$72.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06M
4.6(115)$72.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06P10
4.4(12)$84.99
DonglesSmlightSLZB-06p7
4.4(11)$79.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-06p7U
4.6(33)$78.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-07 MG24
3.5(6)$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)$101.99- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR1U
4.8(16)$102.99 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR2
3.5(3)Unavailable- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR3
5.0(1)Unavailable 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-MR4
4.0(5)$130.00- DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MR5U
5.0(1)$119.99 - DonglesSmlight
SLZB-MRW10
5.0(12)$99.99
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3.8(194)$39.90
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-08P Air Quality Monitor
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CamerasSonoffCAM GlassView
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CamerasSonoffCam Outdoor DUO
3.5(2)$79.90
CamerasSonoffCam Slim Gen2
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4.0(149)Unavailable
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro Gen2
3.2(11)€149.90
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro
4.1(76)$129.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Lite MG21
4.5(462)$24.90 
DonglesSonoffDongle Max
4.3(632)$42.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
4.7(702)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus PP10
4.5(102)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle-PZG23
4.5(176)$39.90 
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4.5(28)$44.90- DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-E
4.7(3,752)$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-P
4.6(5,695)16% OFF$39.99$33.42 
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Unavailable
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