Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
On a Zigbee network that needs its coordinator in the middle of the house, the Smlight SLZB-06p7U is the more capable radio than the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23, with PoE, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB.
It runs a Texas Instruments CC2652P7 as Zigbee coordinator, router or Thread border router, doubles as a Bluetooth proxy and can share another USB dongle over the network. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the cheaper of the two and does something the Smlight cannot: it is a Z-Wave 800 controller, a compact USB stick with an adjustable external antenna and an extension cable in the box. These are radios for different devices rather than rivals. Choose the Smlight SLZB-06p7U for Zigbee or Thread placed over PoE, and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for a plug-and-play Z-Wave network.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-06p7U | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $78.99 | $39.90 | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Power | USB, PoE | USB | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | USB | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Zigbee Router | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Thread Border Router | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Antenna Gain | +5dB | +2dBi | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Bluetooth Proxy | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-06p7U |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.6 | Tie |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U speaks Zigbee 3.0 or Thread; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 speaks Z-Wave Series 800. Owners of the Sonoff run it next to separate Zigbee and Thread sticks without trouble, so the two can share a Home Assistant host.
Placement
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U connects over Ethernet with PoE, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or USB and can sit anywhere a cable reaches. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is USB only, with an extension cable to move it away from noisy USB 3 ports.
Extra roles
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U adds a Bluetooth proxy and USB over Ethernet, which can put a Z-Wave stick you supply on the network. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a dedicated Z-Wave controller.
Setup experience
Owners describe the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 as plug-and-play with no flashing. Smlight SLZB-06p7U owners advise checking the firmware on arrival and being ready to reflash.
Which one to buy if
- your devices are Zigbee and your server sits far from them
PoE lets the Smlight SLZB-06p7U sit in the middle of the house on one cable.
- your locks and thermostats are Z-Wave
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the Z-Wave 800 controller of the two, with S2 security and Long Range.
- you want Thread for Matter devices
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U can act as a Thread border router; the Sonoff has no Thread.
- you want a radio that works the moment it is plugged in
Owners of the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 report no flashing or updates before use.
Winner
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- + Zigbee Router: YES
- - Price: $78.99 vs $39.90
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- + Price: $39.90
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
- - Connectivity: USB vs USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
What owners say
Owners of both radios credit them with ending dropped devices. Smlight SLZB-06p7U owners single out moving the coordinator to the middle of the house on PoE and migrating from another Z-Stack coordinator without re-pairing, but they complain about units that arrived opened or wrongly flashed, a factory reset that can mean opening the case and a rough web interface. Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners talk about a stick Home Assistant recognises with no flashing, running in under ten minutes, and reliable operation with locks, thermostats and Z-Wave gear migrated from an old hub; their only real notes are that it is Z-Wave only and too new to judge long-term durability.
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
- Sonoff Dongle-PZG23
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Smlight SLZB-06p7U or Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U has the broader feature set: PoE, Ethernet and Wi-Fi, Zigbee router and Thread border router modes, Bluetooth proxy and USB over Ethernet. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is cheaper and is the one to buy for Z-Wave devices.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-06p7U and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
The Smlight SLZB-06p7U is a network-connected Zigbee and Thread coordinator; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a USB Z-Wave 800 controller. They serve different devices.
Can the Smlight SLZB-06p7U work with a Z-Wave stick?
It has no Z-Wave radio of its own, but its USB-over-Ethernet passthrough can share a USB stick you supply, such as the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23, over the network.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-06p7U?
Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT users with a PoE switch and a large Zigbee mesh who want the coordinator placed centrally, plus Bluetooth proxy and Thread options.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
Home Assistant or openHAB users building a Z-Wave network who want an affordable, plug-and-play Series 800 stick with S2 security and Long Range.
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
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SmlightSLZB-MR5U
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SmlightSLZB-07
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SmlightSLZB-MR1U
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Dongle-PZG23
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SmlightSLZB-06M
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SonoffDongle Plus PP10
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SLZB-06p7U
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SmlightSLZB-MR2
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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
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