dresden elektronik / Phoscon
ConBee III
- Native integration
- Local control
- Zigbee
Prices verified September 2026
See more hubs & dongles picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
Third-generation ConBee, and still the pick if you specifically want deCONZ/Phoscon rather than plain ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT — that first-party REST API is the one trick no TI or Silicon Labs stick offers. At around £37 it costs more than Home Assistant's own ZBT-2 (roughly £30-35), which ships with a USB extension lead in the box, uses the newer MG24 chip, and has an external antenna versus ConBee III's internal one — so budget for your own extension cable if you're tucking it behind a router. Choose ZBT-2 for a fresh build; choose ConBee III only if deCONZ is the actual reason you're buying.
What can Home Assistant control on the ConBee III?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| ZHA | Native HA integration | Pair directly with no extra software |
| Zigbee2MQTT | Add-on / standalone service | Pair via Z2M for its wider device-support database |
| deCONZ / Phoscon | First-party local web app | Vendor's own control UI, runs alongside HA |
As a coordinator it doesn't add entities itself — it drives whatever's paired to it via ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, or its own first-party deCONZ/Phoscon REST API, which is the one genuine advantage over TI/Silicon Labs sticks: you can poll deCONZ's API directly as an independent heartbeat check and auto-restart HA's Zigbee integration if paired sensors have gone stale while deCONZ itself still reports the network alive. Known limitations versus other coordinators: no network backup/restore, no S1 install-code pairing, and no in-HA channel changing or TX power adjustment.
Specs
| chip | Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 (Zigbee 3.0 + Zigbee Green Power + BLE; Thread-capable silicon but no Thread firmware support) |
|---|---|
| range | Up to 30m indoors / 200m open field (manufacturer spec) |
| software | Works with ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT and deCONZ/Phoscon (first-party) |
| connector | USB-A, internal antenna — no USB extension cable in the box, unlike Home Assistant's ZBT-2 |
| device capacity | Up to ~200 devices in direct pairing, extendable to 500-600+ with Zigbee routers |
| host compatibility | Raspberry Pi, Intel NUC/x86 PCs and laptops, Docker hosts; Windows, macOS, Ubuntu/Debian, Raspberry Pi OS — no official Home Assistant Green bundling |
How does the ConBee III compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConBee III (this product) | £37.46 | Zigbee | Yes | Native |
| Aeotec Z-Stick 7 | £46.43 | Z-Wave | Yes | Native |
| Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet, 128GB) | £249 | Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| Aqara Hub M3 | £109.99 | Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the ConBee III work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The ConBee III is controlled locally in Home Assistant through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (zha), so it keeps working if your internet connection or the dresden elektronik / Phoscon cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the ConBee III use, and do I need a hub?
- The ConBee III uses Zigbee. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Zigbee coordinator (for example a SkyConnect/ZBT-1 or Sonoff dongle) attached to your Home Assistant host. dresden elektronik / Phoscon's own hub is not required when you integrate through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (zha).
- How much does the ConBee III cost in the UK?
- The lowest price we have listed for the ConBee III is £37.46 at Amazon UK. Prices were last checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm on the retailer's page before buying.