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Dongles · Head to head

Smlight SLZB-MR5U vs Sonoff ZBDongle-E

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
Two identical EFR32MG24 radios set the Smlight SLZB-MR5U apart.
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MR5U
$119.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
One runs Zigbee, the other borders Thread, and both run at once thanks to dual network mode, none of which the Sonoff ZBDongle-E offers. The SLZB-MR5U also connects over Ethernet with PoE or Wi-Fi on top of USB, adds a Bluetooth proxy and ships with two external antennas at +5dBi against one at +2dBi on the Sonoff. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E answers with a much lower price and a longer two year warranty, and it stays an excellent, proven Zigbee-only coordinator for Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT and OpenHAB. Neither carries a Z-Wave radio. Buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U to run Zigbee and Thread together from a PoE-powered box, and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E for a cheap, dependable Zigbee coordinator on USB.
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FeatureSmlight SLZB-MR5USonoff ZBDongle-EWinner
Price$119.99$24.90Sonoff ZBDongle-E
Rating5.04.7Smlight SLZB-MR5U
Warranty1 year2 yearsSonoff ZBDongle-E
PowerUSB, PoEUSBSmlight SLZB-MR5U
ConnectivityUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiUSBSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Thread Border RouterYESNOSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Antenna Gain+5dB+2dBiSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Dual NetworkYESNOSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Bluetooth ProxyYESNOSmlight SLZB-MR5U
Zigbee Chip ModelEFR32MG24EFR32MG21Different strengths
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie
Z-Wave ControllerNONOTie

What the differences mean

Radio design

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U uses two EFR32MG24 radios, one for Zigbee and one bordering Thread, running simultaneously in dual network mode. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has a single EFR32MG21 radio that coordinates Zigbee only.

Connection options

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is USB only.

Antenna

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U ships with two external antennas rated +5dBi. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has one external antenna at +2dBi.

Bluetooth proxy

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U proxies Bluetooth sensor signals to Home Assistant over the network. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E does not act as a Bluetooth proxy.

Price and warranty

The Sonoff ZBDongle-E costs far less and carries a two year warranty against one year on the Smlight SLZB-MR5U.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners describe a dongle that just works: Home Assistant's ZHA integration picks it up instantly with no drivers or flashing, and it holds up under large mixed-brand networks, with reports of dozens of devices running without a hiccup. The external antenna gets credit for solid range through several floors, and it is a favorite for cutting a brand's cloud bridge, such as the Philips Hue Hub, out of the picture entirely. The one piece of advice that comes up again and again is to run it on a USB 2.0 extension cable away from the host machine, since sitting it right next to a USB 3.0 port is the most common cause of range trouble. A handful of buyers hit pairing snags with specific devices, some Aqara sensors among them.

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 ZBDongle-E

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: the Smlight SLZB-MR5U or the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

The Smlight SLZB-MR5U does more, running Zigbee and Thread together with a Bluetooth proxy on top. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the simpler, cheaper choice for a Zigbee-only network.

Can the Sonoff ZBDongle-E run Thread?

No, it is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator only. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U has a dedicated Thread border router radio alongside its Zigbee coordinator.

What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-MR5U and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

Radio count and connection options. The Smlight SLZB-MR5U runs Zigbee and Thread at once over Ethernet, PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E runs Zigbee alone over USB.

Do either of these support Z-Wave?

No, neither the Smlight SLZB-MR5U nor the Sonoff ZBDongle-E has a Z-Wave radio. For that, look at Smlight's SLZB-MRW10 instead.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MR5U?

Home Assistant users adding Thread and Matter accessories to an existing Zigbee network, who want a PoE-powered gateway with a Bluetooth proxy.

Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

Anyone building a straightforward Zigbee network on Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT or OpenHAB who wants a proven, low-cost coordinator with a long warranty.

Full comparison table

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