SMLight SLZB Ultima3 - Specs, Dashboard Tour & My Thoughts

<section class="review-transcript"> <p><strong>Hi, I’m Tim, and thanks for watching this video.</strong> If you saw my previous overview of the <strong>SLZB-Ultima</strong> from <strong>SMLIGHT</strong>, this follow-up focuses on the web interface. I’ll walk through the main settings and options, then share my honest pros and cons.</p> <p>Before jumping into the interface, I created a simple spreadsheet to compare key specs across a few models: <strong>SLZB-06P7</strong>, <strong>SLZB-MR3</strong>, and the <strong>SLZB-Ultima</strong> (the unit reviewed here). All three use an ESP32-S3 as the core chip with similar basics like clock speed, cores, and flash memory. The Ultima appears to report higher RAM in the dashboard, though I’m not fully certain that value is 100% accurate.</p> <p>For radio chips, the comparison shows different combinations depending on the model. The Ultima has multiple radios, and one of the key differences is that it supports an additional radio dedicated to <strong>Z-Wave</strong> when the Z-Wave add-on is installed.</p> <p>Now, looking at the web interface: it’s very similar to other SMLIGHT devices, which is good because it feels standardized. The dashboard shows general status, Ethernet connectivity, radio information, and the presence of add-ons like <strong>4G LTE</strong> (installed in my case, but I don’t have a SIM card to test it yet). The firmware and SLZB OS version were updated to the latest available at the time of recording.</p> <p>On the left menu, you can set the operating mode of each radio. The Ultima supports multiple roles such as Zigbee coordinator, Matter-over-Thread, Zigbee router, and Zigbee hub. The third radio is reserved for Z-Wave when that add-on is installed and can’t be repurposed for other modes.</p> <p>Below that are familiar sections like <strong>Zigbee hub mode</strong>, <strong>network settings</strong>, and <strong>MQTT</strong>. There is also a dedicated <strong>4G LTE add-on</strong> section which should show signal strength, SIM status, and network type once a SIM is installed.</p> <p>The interface includes <strong>Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA</strong> settings (similar to other models), and an additional feature on the Ultima: <strong>IR learn &amp; replay</strong>. This is designed to let the device learn IR commands from a remote control, then replay them. For example, you could potentially send IR commands from Home Assistant through the Ultima to control a TV. This feature is still in development, so it’s likely to improve over time.</p> <p>Other sections include a <strong>buzzer</strong> (for warning tones and notifications), <strong>ambient lighting</strong> with effects (solid, blur, rainbow-style transitions), customizable colors, brightness, and speed controls. There are also the standard areas: <strong>security</strong>, <strong>VPN</strong>, <strong>DDNS</strong>, <strong>USB</strong>, <strong>scripts and automations</strong>, plus <strong>settings and tools</strong>.</p> <p>The standardized layout across devices makes navigation easier. LED settings allow disabling LEDs, although I noticed one Z-Wave indicator LED still stayed on even when LEDs were disabled. That may be a bug or intentional behavior.</p> <p><strong>My thoughts (pros and cons):</strong> The biggest positive is that the interface is consistent and easy to navigate once you learn it. The Ultima offers a wide feature set in one device, including Zigbee/Thread, optional Z-Wave, and unique features like IR learn/replay and ambient lighting.</p> <p>On the other hand, the wide number of different SMLIGHT models can be confusing for new buyers. Also, IR control has a practical limitation: for IR learn/replay to work well, the Ultima needs to be placed close to the IR-controlled device (like a TV) and within line-of-sight. If your smart home gear is in a rack in a different room, IR control may not be convenient. A potential future improvement could be external IR accessories, which would allow flexible placement.</p> <p>The Ultima is still under development, so it may appeal most to users who enjoy tinkering and testing new features. If you only need a basic Zigbee or Thread coordinator, a simpler model may be a better fit. But if you want a single device that can cover Zigbee, Thread, and optional Z-Wave in one platform, then the <strong>SLZB-Ultima</strong> is a compelling all-in-one option.</p> <p><strong>Thanks for watching.</strong> Let me know your thoughts: would you choose an all-in-one solution like this, or stick with separate coordinators for Zigbee and Thread?</p> </section>