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Dongles · Head to head

Smlight SLZB-MR5U vs Sonoff Dongle Max

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
On paper the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Sonoff Dongle Max are close, both network coordinators; in practice the Smlight SLZB-MR5U adds a Bluetooth proxy and a genuine dual-network mode where the Sonoff marks its own as experimental.
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
$119.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It runs Zigbee and Thread on two EFR32MG24 radios, connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, and uses two external antennas at +20 dBm. Both work with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, and the Sonoff counters with a Wi-Fi access point and a lower price, plus a longer record of owner experience. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MR5U for a Zigbee and Thread network, Bluetooth sensors and a dual-network mode you can rely on, and the Sonoff Dongle Max if you want Ethernet placement and a Wi-Fi access point for less.
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FeatureSmlight SLZB-MR5USonoff Dongle MaxWinner
Price$119.99€32.13Sonoff Dongle Max
Rating5.04.3Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Dual NetworkYESNOSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Bluetooth ProxyYESNOSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Antenna Gain+5dB+5dBiDifferent strengths
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
PowerUSB, PoEUSB, PoETie
ConnectivityUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiTie
Zigbee Chip ModelEFR32MG24EFR32MG24Tie
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie
Z-Wave ControllerNONOTie
Thread Border RouterYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Dual-network support

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee and Thread together with a dedicated radio for each, as a supported feature. The Sonoff Dongle Max offers the same combination but still labels it experimental, so it is not the one to trust with critical mixed-protocol automations.

Bluetooth proxy

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U relays Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant over the network. The Sonoff Dongle Max does not act as a Bluetooth proxy, so BLE devices need another adapter.

Wi-Fi access point

The Sonoff Dongle Max doubles as a Wi-Fi access point, an extra the Smlight SLZB-MR5U does not offer. It is a nice-to-have rather than the reason to buy either one.

Radios and antennas

Both use two external antennas at +5 dBi gain with +20 dBm of transmit power and both work as Zigbee and Thread coordinators with a router role. The Smlight pairs two EFR32MG24 radios; the Sonoff adds an ESP32 for the access point.

Price and track record

The Sonoff Dongle Max is the cheaper of the two and the one with a broader record of owner experience, though it carries the documented portal and firmware quirks. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is newer and costs more.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Sonoff Dongle Max owners describe the flexibility as the whole point: USB, Ethernet or PoE lets the coordinator go wherever the signal is weakest, and one owner used it to cover a detached garage about 30 meters away. Integration with Home Assistant, ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT comes up as smooth, with entities appearing quickly and sensors pairing without fuss, and the build quality and feature set read as good value. The complaints are about polish and documentation: a firmware update that needs a physical power cycle, not a reboot, with the step not written down, a web portal that repeatedly asks for a login, and a minority reporting devices disconnecting on their own after setup. The dual-network mode remains experimental.

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
  • Sonoff Dongle Max

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Smlight SLZB-MR5U or Sonoff Dongle Max?

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U edges it on capability, with a Bluetooth proxy and a dual-network mode that is supported rather than experimental. The Sonoff Dongle Max counters with a Wi-Fi access point, a lower price and more owner history, so it remains the value pick for a plain Zigbee and Thread setup.

What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Sonoff Dongle Max?

How each treats Zigbee and Thread at the same time. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs both as a supported feature on two radios, while the Sonoff Dongle Max offers the same combination but labels it experimental. The Smlight also adds a Bluetooth proxy.

Can the Sonoff Dongle Max run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?

It can, but the manufacturer marks that mode as experimental, so it should not be relied on for critical automations. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs the same combination as a supported feature, which is the reason it takes this comparison.

Do both work with Home Assistant?

Yes. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Sonoff Dongle Max both work with Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, and both can be placed away from the server over Ethernet or PoE. The Sonoff also carries a Wi-Fi access point, and the Smlight a Bluetooth proxy.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?

A Home Assistant home running Zigbee and Thread that wants a supported dual-network mode, a Bluetooth proxy and two strong radios in a network-placed coordinator.

Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle Max?

A Zigbee and Thread home that wants Ethernet or PoE placement, a Wi-Fi access point and a lower price, and can live with the experimental label on simultaneous protocols.

Full comparison table

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