Smlight SLZB-06p7U vs Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21

The Smlight SLZB-06p7U is the more capable coordinator, with Ethernet and PoE placement, a Bluetooth proxy and USB-over-Ethernet passthrough. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is the better value, far cheaper and nearly plug-and-play, and a fine first Zigbee stick or router.

Where the radio lives. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U connects over Ethernet with PoE, Wi-Fi or USB and can be placed centrally, while the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 is a USB stick tied to the host. That is what lets the Smlight cure a mesh that keeps dropping devices.

Yes. Both are Zigbee 3.0 coordinators that work with Home Assistant through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, and both can also run as a Thread border router. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U adds a Bluetooth proxy and USB passthrough.

Yes, but not out of the box. It ships configured for Zigbee and must be flashed to run Thread and Matter over Thread, a step owners find takes more effort than expected. The Smlight SLZB-06p7U arrives with Thread border routing among its features.

Home Assistant users whose Zigbee network suffers because the coordinator sits beside the server, and anyone wanting central placement, a Bluetooth proxy or a network coordinator with USB passthrough.

First-time local smart home builders and anyone who wants a cheap, reliable Zigbee coordinator or router, with the bundled extension cable doing enough to keep interference down.