Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 vs Sonoff Dongle-PZG23

For most DIY smart homes on a budget the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 wins, as the cheaper and more versatile stick that handles Zigbee coordinator, Zigbee router and flashable Thread duties. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 is the one to buy only if your devices are Z-Wave, since it is a Z-Wave 800 controller and does no Zigbee or Thread.

Protocol. The Dongle Lite MG21 is a Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that can also flash into a Thread border router, while the Dongle-PZG23 is a Z-Wave 800 controller with S2 security and Long Range. They cover different device ecosystems, so what you own decides it.

No, neither is a dual-protocol stick. The Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 does Zigbee and, once flashed, Thread, but not Z-Wave. The Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 does Z-Wave only. Owners who need both simply run one of each side by side.

Buy the Sonoff Dongle Lite MG21 if you want an affordable, flexible Zigbee coordinator or router for Home Assistant with the option to flash it for Thread and Matter later. It has no Z-Wave.

Buy the Sonoff Dongle-PZG23 if your smart home runs on Z-Wave and you want a plug-and-play Z-Wave 800 controller with S2 security and Long Range for Home Assistant or openHAB. It does no Zigbee or Thread.