Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 USB Adapter Supports Zigbee, Thread, and Matter

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2. Images used courtesy of home-assistant.io

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is a Zigbee, Thread, and Matter USB adapter designed as an official Home Assistant companion, replacing cloud-based smart home hubs from brands like Hue and Ikea. It improves range, performance, and responsiveness over the earlier ZBT-1 model thanks to a new antenna design, faster communication, and an upgraded Silicon Labs wireless MCU.

The ZBT-2 is built on the Silicon Labs MG24 Cortex-M33 SoC with 256KB RAM and 1.5MB flash, paired with an ESP32-S3 acting as a USB-to-serial bridge, and supports Zigbee 3.0, Thread, and Matter (single-protocol operation at a time). It offers up to 10 dBm transmit power, a 4.16 dBi omnidirectional antenna, a USB-C interface, and compatibility with ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, and OpenThread Border Router. The unit features an easily accessible enclosure for modding, exposed pads for firmware flashing, a Z-Wave-style button, CE/FCC certifications, and ships with a 1.5-meter USB-C cable. It’s designed for Home Assistant Green, Raspberry Pi setups, or other SBC-based installations needing a reliable local smart home coordinator.

ZBT-2 Hardware Overview. Images used courtesy of seeedstudio

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Specifications

• Wireless SoC: Silicon Labs MG24 (Arm Cortex-M33 @ 78MHz, DSP, FPU, 256KB RAM, 1.5MB flash)
• Bridge MCU: ESP32-S3 (WiFi/Bluetooth disabled in firmware)
• Wireless Support: Zigbee 3.0, Thread, Matter (single-protocol operation)
• Tx Power: 10 dBm (EU), 8 dBm (rest of world)
• Antenna: 2.4 GHz omnidirectional, 4.16 dBi peak gain
• Baud Rate: 460,800 bps for improved responsiveness
• Host Interface: USB-C
• Button: Z-Wave-style function button
• Power: 5V/0.5A via USB-C
• Dimensions: 176 × 83 × 83 mm (polycarbonate enclosure)
• Weight: 157 g
• Operating Conditions: 0–65°C, dry indoor environments
• Certifications: CE, FCC, RCM (FCC ID: 2A8ZE04)

The Connect ZBT-2 simply works with Home Assistant, offering native support for ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, and OpenThread Border Router for Thread/Matter networks. It’s plug-and-play with Home Assistant Green, Nabu Casa systems, and Raspberry Pi or SBC-based installs, providing easy firmware flashing, stable coordinator performance, and broad compatibility with local, cloud-free smart home ecosystems.

The Connect ZBT-2 improves on the ZBT-1 with a larger optimized antenna, a faster 460,800 bps baud rate, and an upgraded Silicon Labs MG24 chip that delivers better performance and sensitivity. It replaces the older CP2102N USB chip with an ESP32-S3 for added flexibility, and its tool-free enclosure with exposed pads makes hardware access and firmware flashing much easier than on the original ZBT-1.

ZBT-2 Dimensions. Images used courtesy of seeedstudio

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 adapter sells for $49 on Seeed Studio, Ameridroid, and other stores. In the package, you will receive a 1.5-meter USB-C cable, a Quick Start guide, and warranty and safety information. Additional details can be found on the product page, and if you are inclined, you can also watch the 1h14m product announcement live stream.

Images used courtesy of home-assistant.io