Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus Review
The Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus is a powerful and affordable Zigbee coordinator designed for users who want full local control of their smart home. It is widely used with platforms like Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, making it a strong option for beginners and advanced users alike.
What is the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle
The Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 Dongle Plus is a universal Zigbee 3.0 coordinator that replaces brand locked smart home hubs. Instead of relying on cloud services, it allows you to manage Zigbee devices locally through your own system.
This approach improves reliability, privacy and long-term flexibility for smart home setups.
What are the Key Features of the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus?
The Zigbee 3.0 Dongle Plus is designed for long-term stability, strong signal performance and broad Zigbee compatibility. These are the core features that make it a reliable smart home coordinator.
Powerful TI CC2652P Hardware
The dongle is built on the TI CC2652P chip with a CP2102n USB controller. This hardware combination delivers reliable Zigbee communication and a +20 d8m output gain, which significantly improves range compared to older Zigbee USB sticks.
Durable Aluminum Alloy Housing
The sonoff zigbee 3.0 usb features a solid aluminum alloy enclosure. This housing helps reduce electromagnetic interference from nearby USB devices and improves overall durability during continuous operation.
Pre-Flashed Z-Stack Coordinator Firmware
The dongle ships pre-flashed with Z-Stack 3.x.0 coordinator firmware. This allows most users to use it immediately with Home Assistant or Zigbee2MQTT without performing manual firmware flashing.
External SMA Antenna for Better Coverage
Unlike many Zigbee USB sticks with internal antennas, the sonoff zigbee dongle includes an external SMA antenna. This improves signal penetration through walls and provides more consistent Zigbee coverage across larger homes.
Who is the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus Best For?
The sonoff zigbee 3.0 usb dongle plus ho
me assistant setup is ideal for users who want a local first smart home.
It is best for:
- Home Assistant users who want local automation.
- DIY smart home enthusiasts.
- Users combining devices from multiple brands.
- Beginners starting with Zigbee for the first time.
Because it is widely supported and mostly plug and play, it works well even for users with limited technical experience.
How Does the Sonoff Zigbee Dongle Work with Home Assistant?
The sonoff zigbee dongle home assistant integration is one of its biggest advantages.
Which Zigbee Platforms are Supported?
You can use the dongle with:
- Home Assistant ZHA
- Zigbee2MQTT
- Linux based system such as Raspberry Pi
Is Setup Complicated for Beginners?
No. Most users only need to plug in the dongle, select it inside Home Assistant, and start pairing devices.
How Do You Set Up the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus?
Setting up the Sonoff Zigbee USB is straightforward.
- Where should the dongle be placed?
- Which integration should you choose?
- ZHA is best for simple setups.
- Zigbee2MQTT is better for advanced users and broader device support.
- How is the device detected?
It is strongly recommended to use a USB 2.0 extension cable. This moves the dongle away from WiFi radios and reduces interference.
On Linux systems, the device path can be identified by checking connected USB devices before and after plugging in the dongle.
What Performance and Range Can You Expect?
The sonoff zigbee 3.0 coordinator performs significantly better than older Zigbee USB sticks like the CC2531.
Key performance highlights:
- Strong signal strength with +20 dBm output
- Stable connections through walls
- Improved link quality across larger homes
By default, it supports 21 direct device connections and up to 40 total devices in a Zigbee mesh. With newer firmware, this can be extended to up to 200 devices.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent Zigbee range and stability | Wide aluminum body can block nearby USB ports |
| External antenna included | USB extension cable is almost required |
| Local control with no cloud dependency | Older firmware versions may cause pairing issues |
| Strong community and firmware support |
How Does it Compare to Other Zigbee USB Dongles?
Compared to other Zigbee coordinators, the sonoff zigbee dongle offers one of the best balances of price, performance, and community support. Many alternatives lack external antennas or long-term firmware updates, which makes this model a safer long-term choice.
Final Verdict: Is the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus Worth It?
The sonoff zigbee 3.0 usb dongle plus is a reliable and budget friendly Zigbee coordinator that gives users full control over their smart home. Its strong hardware, external antenna, and excellent Home Assistant support make it one of the best choices for building a local and private Zigbee network.
