Winner
Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Worried about choosing between Zigbee and Thread?
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs both at once, where the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 answers with a Z-Wave radio instead. The Smlight is a network coordinator with two EFR32MG24 radios for Zigbee and Thread simultaneously, a Bluetooth proxy, and Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi placement. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is a USB-only Z-Wave 800 coordinator that the Smlight cannot replace if your devices are Z-Wave, and it is the cheaper, truly plug-and-play option. Both work with Home Assistant, both reach +20 dBm and both include an external antenna. Choose the Smlight SLZB-MR5U for a Zigbee and Thread network with the radio off the server, and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 for a dedicated Z-Wave controller.
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| Feature | Smlight SLZB-MR5U | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $39.90 | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.6 | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Power | USB, PoE | USB | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi | USB | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Zigbee Router | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Z-Wave Controller | NO | YES | Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 |
| Thread Border Router | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Antenna Gain | +5dB | +2dBi | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Dual Network | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Bluetooth Proxy | YES | NO | Smlight SLZB-MR5U |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Tie |
| Matter Bridge | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Protocol
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee and Thread; the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 runs Z-Wave. The right choice follows the devices you already own, because neither speaks the other's protocol.
Dual radio
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee and Thread with a dedicated radio for each, so both operate at once. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 has a single Z-Wave radio and no Zigbee or Thread.
Placement
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi and can be mounted centrally. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is USB-only and stays with the host, using its extension cable to escape interference.
Z-Wave
Only the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 carries a Z-Wave Series 800 controller, which is why it is the pick for a Z-Wave home. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has no Z-Wave radio at all.
Price and antennas
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the cheaper of the two and includes an adjustable 2 dBi antenna with a USB extension cable. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U costs more and uses two external antennas at +5 dBi gain for its Zigbee and Thread radios.
Which one to buy if
- your devices are Zigbee and Thread
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs both at once on dedicated radios and adds a Thread border router and Bluetooth proxy.
- your devices are Z-Wave
The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the Z-Wave 800 coordinator here, cheap, plug-and-play and with strong range.
- the coordinator needs to move away from the server
Ethernet with PoE lets the Smlight SLZB-MR5U go where the USB-only Sonoff cannot.
- you also want Bluetooth sensors on the network
The Smlight SLZB-MR5U relays Bluetooth sensors to Home Assistant, which the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 does not.
Winner
$119.99
- + Rating: 5.0
- + Power: USB, PoE
- + Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFi
- - Price: $119.99 vs $39.90
- - Z-Wave Controller: NO vs YES
- + Price: $39.90
- + Z-Wave Controller: YES
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 5.0
- - Power: USB vs USB, PoE
What owners say
Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 owners make the install sound trivial: plug it in, Home Assistant recognizes it quickly with no flashing or firmware update, and Z-Wave devices are often up and running in under ten minutes. Range and reliability are the themes, with owners crediting the Z-Wave 800 chip, Z-Wave Long Range and the adjustable 2 dBi antenna for reach better than cheaper dongles, and reporting no dropped devices over long runs. They value the included roughly one-meter USB extension cable for keeping the antenna clear of noisy USB 3 ports, and that it adopts a mix of hardware, including a Schlage deadbolt, a Honeywell thermostat and decade-old Z-Wave devices migrated from a retired Vera hub. Its only limit is scope: Z-Wave only.
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-PZG23
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Smlight SLZB-MR5U or Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
They serve different networks. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a Zigbee and Thread coordinator with Ethernet placement and a Bluetooth proxy, while the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the Z-Wave 800 controller. Pick the radio that matches your devices, and note the Sonoff is the cheaper, more plug-and-play option.
What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
The protocol. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U speaks Zigbee and Thread, the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 speaks Z-Wave. Both work with Home Assistant and both put +20 dBm behind their radios, so the decision is about the devices, not the specs.
Does the Smlight SLZB-MR5U support Z-Wave?
No. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U is a Zigbee and Thread coordinator with a Bluetooth proxy and no Z-Wave radio. A Z-Wave home needs a controller like the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23.
Which one is easier to set up with Home Assistant?
Both are easy. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is described by owners as truly plug-and-play for Z-Wave, with no flashing needed, and the Smlight SLZB-MR5U works through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA. The Sonoff also includes a USB extension cable for better antenna placement.
Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?
A Home Assistant home running Zigbee and Thread that wants both on dedicated radios, the coordinator on the network, and Bluetooth sensors relayed without an extra adapter.
Who should buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23?
Anyone whose smart home is Z-Wave only, who wants a cheap, plug-and-play 800 Series coordinator with strong range and no firmware step.
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$33.47
ZoozZ-Wave Long Range Stick
$39.95
Nabu CasaHome Assistant Connect ZWA-2
$79.00- Sonoff
Dongle-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
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-07P Air Quality Monitor
3.7(193)$39.90
Air Quality MonitorsSonoffSAWF-08P Air Quality Monitor
4.3(169)$49.90
CamerasSonoffCAM GlassView
4.4(30)$34.90
CamerasSonoffCam Outdoor DUO
$79.90
CamerasSonoffCam Slim Gen2
4.4(176)$19.90
CamerasSonoffGK-200MP2-B
4.0(149)30% OFF$9.99$6.99
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro Gen2
3.4(11)€149.90
DisplaysSonoffNSPanel Pro
4.1(75)$129.90- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Lite MG21
4.5(452)$24.90 
DonglesSonoffDongle Max
4.3(603)18% OFF
€38.99€32.13- DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus MG24
4.7(690)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle Plus PP10
4.6(99)$35.90 - DonglesSonoff
Dongle-PZG23
4.6(175)$39.90 
DonglesSonoffZ-Wave 800 PoE Dongle Max
4.5(26)$44.90- DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-E
4.7(3,743)$24.90 - DonglesSonoff
ZBDongle-P
4.6(5,678)16% OFF$39.99$33.47 
Door & Window SensorsSonoffDW2-WIFI
3.8(1,058)$12.23
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04 ZigBee Wireless Door/Window Sensor
3.7(101)$17.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSNZB-04P ZigBee Door/Window Sensor
4.0(13)$18.99
Door & Window SensorsSonoffSenseGuard DW Gen2
4.4(203)£35.00