Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight site.
2026 verdict
Between these two SMLIGHT multi-radio gateways, the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 edges ahead mainly on one radio: Z-Wave, which its Smlight SLZB-MR5U sibling does not have, and on a lower price.
Everything else lines up closely: both run dual network mode for Zigbee and Thread at the same time, both proxy Bluetooth to Home Assistant, and both connect over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi with matching antenna and transmit power specs. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U's one real distinction is using the same Silicon Labs chip for both of its radios instead of mixing chip families, which keeps firmware and troubleshooting consistent across the two. Neither has much independent owner experience to draw on yet. Buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 for the lower price and the Z-Wave controller, and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U only when that single-chip consistency matters more to you than either of those.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-MR5U | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $100.00 | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Smlight SLZB-MRW10 |
| Zigbee Chip Model | EFR32MG24 | CC2652P10 | Different strengths |
| Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 | Tie |
| 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 |
| Thread Border Router | YES | YES | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
| Transmit Power | +20dBm | +20dBm | Tie |
| Antenna Gain | +5dB | +5dB | Tie |
What the differences mean
Z-Wave
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 includes a Z-Wave Series 800 controller. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has no Z-Wave radio.
Chip family
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses the same Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 for both of its radios. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 mixes a Texas Instruments chip for Zigbee with a Silicon Labs chip for Z-Wave, which is what makes the Z-Wave radio possible.
Price
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 costs less than the Smlight SLZB-MR5U, on top of adding the Z-Wave controller.
Which one to buy if
- Z-Wave has to run alongside Zigbee and Thread
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 has a Z-Wave Series 800 controller; the Smlight SLZB-MR5U does not.
- you want one chip family across both onboard radios
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses a Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 for both Zigbee and Thread, rather than mixing chip families.
- the lower price between these two SMLIGHT gateways decides it
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 costs less than the Smlight SLZB-MR5U.
$119.99
- - Price: $119.99 vs $100.00
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
Winner
$100.00
- + Price: $100.00
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
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-MR5U
- Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: the Smlight SLZB-MR5U or the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10, mainly because it adds a Z-Wave Series 800 controller the Smlight SLZB-MR5U does not have, and it costs less. Otherwise the two are very close.
Does the Smlight SLZB-MR5U support Z-Wave?
No. Only the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 in this pair has a Z-Wave controller.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
Z-Wave. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 adds a Series 800 controller for it; the Smlight SLZB-MR5U instead keeps both its radios on the same Silicon Labs chip.
Can both of these run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
Yes, both the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 support dual network mode, running Zigbee and Thread simultaneously.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?
Home Assistant users who want Z-Wave alongside Zigbee and Thread from one PoE-powered gateway, at a lower price than the SLZB-MR5U.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
Home Assistant users who do not need Z-Wave and prefer both onboard radios built on the same Silicon Labs chip family.
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
$100.00
SmlightSLZB-06 U
$72.99
SmlightSLZB-MR3
€158.13- Smlight
SLZB-MR5U
$119.99 
SmlightSLZB-07
$34.99
SmlightSLZB-MR1U
$102.99
SmlightSLZB-07p7
$36.99
SonoffZBDongle-E
$24.90
SonoffDongle Plus MG24
$35.90
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZBT-2
$65.00
SonoffZBDongle-P
16% OFF$39.99$33.45
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00
SonoffDongle-PZG23
$39.90
SmlightSLZB-06M
$72.99
SonoffDongle Plus PP10
$35.90
SmlightSLZB-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