Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight site.
2026 verdict
If you want Zigbee and Thread running from the same box at the same time, the Smlight SLZB-MR5U is the one that does it.
Dual network mode is what makes the difference; the Smlight SLZB-06p7U does not have it. The SLZB-MR5U also holds a higher owner rating, though both are recent enough that neither rests on many reviews yet. Everything else matches closely: both are Thread border routers, both proxy Bluetooth to Home Assistant, and both connect over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi with comparable antenna gain and transmit power. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U answers with a lower price and a USB-over-Ethernet passthrough for sharing another dongle over the network, which the Smlight SLZB-MR5U does not offer. Buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U to run Zigbee and Thread at the same time, and the Smlight SLZB-06p7U when one protocol at a time and a lower price matter more.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-06p7U | Smlight SLZB-MR5U | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $78.99 | $119.99 | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Rating | 4.6 | 5.0 | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Dual Network | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Zigbee Chip Model | CC2652P7 | 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
Running Zigbee and Thread together
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U supports dual network mode, so Zigbee and Thread run at the same time on its two matching radios. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U has no dual network mode.
USB-over-Ethernet passthrough
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U can share another USB dongle over the network. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U does not offer this passthrough.
Zigbee chip
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P7 for Zigbee. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses a Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 for both of its radios. Migrating an existing Z-Stack network without re-pairing depends on matching the chip family.
Owner rating
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U holds a higher owner rating than the Smlight SLZB-06p7U, though both are new enough that neither rating rests on many reviews.
Price
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U costs less than the Smlight SLZB-MR5U, which is the trade-off for giving up dual network mode and the second matched radio.
Which one to buy if
- Zigbee and Thread both need to run at the same time
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U supports dual network mode; the Smlight SLZB-06p7U does not.
- you also want to share another USB dongle over the network
Only the Smlight SLZB-06p7U offers a USB-over-Ethernet passthrough.
- your existing coordinator uses a Texas Instruments chip and you want to migrate without re-pairing
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U shares that chip family; the Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses Silicon Labs radios instead.
- the lowest price between these two coordinators decides it
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U costs less than the Smlight SLZB-MR5U.
- + Price: $78.99
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 5.0
- - Dual Network: NO vs YES
Winner
$119.99
- + Rating: 5.0
- + Dual Network: YES
- - Price: $119.99 vs $78.99
What owners say
Owners moving to the Smlight SLZB-06p7U from a failing USB dongle report the migration itself is the easy part: cloning the old coordinator's address and keys brings every device back online without pairing anything again, even in networks running dozens or, in one case, over a hundred devices. Moving the radio onto a PoE cable is the other change owners credit for fixing drop-outs that a server-mounted USB stick never solved. The recurring complaint is quality control on arrival rather than the design itself, several describe a unit that had clearly been opened or carried the wrong firmware, with no simple reset button and a web interface owners call rough once they force it into flashing mode.
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-06p7U
- Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: the Smlight SLZB-06p7U or the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U can run Zigbee and Thread at the same time and rates higher. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U costs less and adds a USB-over-Ethernet passthrough the MR5U does not have.
Can the Smlight SLZB-06p7U run Zigbee and Thread simultaneously?
No, it runs one protocol at a time. Only the Smlight SLZB-MR5U in this pair supports dual network mode.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-06p7U and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
The Zigbee chip and dual network mode. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U uses a Texas Instruments radio and adds USB passthrough, while the Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses two Silicon Labs radios that run Zigbee and Thread together.
Which one should I pick if I am migrating from an existing Zigbee coordinator?
Check the chip family first. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U uses a Texas Instruments CC2652P7, which matters if your current network needs a matching chip to migrate without re-pairing devices.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
Home Assistant users adding Thread and Matter accessories to an existing Zigbee network who want both radios running at once.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06p7U?
Home Assistant users who need Zigbee and Thread but not at the same time, want the lower price, and may want to pass another USB dongle over the network.
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
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SmlightSLZB-MR3
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SmlightSLZB-MR5U
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SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
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SonoffDongle Plus MG24
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SonoffZBDongle-P
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ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
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Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
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SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90- Smlight
SLZB-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 
DonglesSmlightSLZB-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