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Dongles · Head to head

Smlight SLZB-MRW10 vs Sonoff ZBDongle-E

Full Smart Dongles comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Smlight and Sonoff sites.
2026 verdict
The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 outclasses the Sonoff ZBDongle-E as a coordinator.
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Winner
Smlight SLZB-MRW10
$100.00
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It adds a genuine Z-Wave Series 800 controller, a Thread border router and a Bluetooth proxy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E does not have, plus Ethernet with PoE and a second external antenna on top of USB and Wi-Fi. Dual network mode lets its Zigbee and Thread radios run at the same time. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E answers with a much lower price and a longer two year warranty, and it stays the simpler, plug-and-play choice for a Zigbee-only network, recognized instantly by Home Assistant's ZHA with nothing more than plugging it in. Both coordinate Zigbee 3.0 and work with Zigbee2MQTT. Buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 to consolidate Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and Bluetooth onto one PoE-powered box, and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E when Zigbee alone is all the network needs.
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FeatureSmlight SLZB-MRW10Sonoff ZBDongle-EWinner
Price$100.00$24.90Sonoff ZBDongle-E
Rating5.04.7Smlight SLZB-MRW10
Warranty1 year2 yearsSonoff ZBDongle-E
PowerUSB, PoEUSBSmlight SLZB-MRW10
ConnectivityUSB, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz WiFiUSBSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Z-Wave ControllerYESNOSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Thread Border RouterYESNOSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Antenna Gain+5dB+2dBiSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Dual NetworkYESNOSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Bluetooth ProxyYESNOSmlight SLZB-MRW10
Zigbee Chip ModelCC2652P10EFR32MG21Different strengths
Zigbee RouterYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Z-Wave

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 includes a Z-Wave Series 800 controller alongside its Zigbee coordinator. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has no Z-Wave radio at all.

Thread border router

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 acts as a Thread border router, with dual network mode letting Zigbee and Thread run at the same time. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E has no Thread support and is not a Matter bridge either.

Connection options

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is USB only, with no Ethernet, PoE or Wi-Fi option.

Bluetooth proxy

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 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-MRW10.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Sonoff ZBDongle-E owners call it rock-solid and plug-and-play: Home Assistant's ZHA integration recognizes it immediately with no firmware flashing, and it scales to dozens of mixed-brand devices without drama, with one owner reporting 43 running flawlessly across several brands. The external antenna earns praise for reaching through multiple floors, and many use it specifically to replace a proprietary bridge like the Philips Hue Hub for local, cloud-free control. Their one strong recommendation is a USB 2.0 extension cable to move the dongle away from the host machine, since plugging it directly in, especially near USB 3.0 ports, can hurt range and stability. A few report trouble pairing specific devices, such as certain Aqara sensors.

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-MRW10
  • Sonoff ZBDongle-E

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 or the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 does far more, adding Z-Wave, Thread and a Bluetooth proxy to its Zigbee coordinator. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is the simpler, cheaper choice when Zigbee is the only radio you need.

Does the Sonoff ZBDongle-E support Z-Wave or Thread?

No, it is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator only. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 adds a Z-Wave Series 800 controller and a Thread border router on top of Zigbee.

What is the biggest difference between the Smlight SLZB-MRW10 and the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

Radio count. The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 covers Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and Bluetooth proxying over Ethernet, USB or Wi-Fi. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E covers Zigbee alone over USB.

Can either dongle replace a separate Z-Wave stick?

The Smlight SLZB-MRW10 can, since it has its own Z-Wave Series 800 controller. The Sonoff ZBDongle-E cannot; it has no Z-Wave radio.

Who should buy the Smlight SLZB-MRW10?

Home Assistant users running Zigbee and Z-Wave together, or who want Thread and a Bluetooth proxy consolidated into one PoE-powered gateway.

Who should buy the Sonoff ZBDongle-E?

Anyone building a Zigbee-only 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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