Sonoff and other eWeLink devices with Zigbee 3.0 chip

Zigbee 3.0 is the latest version of the Zigbee wireless communication protocol, designed specifically for smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It unifies all previous Zigbee standards into a single, cohesive specification, offering greater interoperability, improved security, and lower power consumption.

Smart devices equipped with standard Zigbee 3.0 chips are increasingly popular due to their broad compatibility, energy efficiency, and robust mesh networking capabilities. These devices are ideal for users seeking a reliable and flexible smart home ecosystem.

eWeLink-compatible devices sold on ewelinkstore.com has embedded eWeLink Zigbee 3.0 chips. They can be connected to an eWeLink Zigbee gateway, used with eWeLink eco-system, controlled in eWeLink app. Or they can be used with other smart home eco-systems, which have hubs and gateways supporting the Zigbee 3.0 protocol.

Advantages of Zigbee 3.0 products:

One of the standout advantages of Zigbee 3.0 devices is their interoperability. Unlike Wi-Fi devices that often lock users into specific apps or platforms, Zigbee 3.0-certified devices are designed to work across different brands and ecosystems, including:

This means that a Sonoff or SmartWise Zigbee 3.0 smart switch can most probably work alongside a sensor from another brand under a unified third party hub — providing maximum flexibility and future-proofing.

Zigbee 3.0 devices create a self-healing mesh network, where each mains-powered device (like plugs and switches) acts as a router to relay signals to other devices. This results in:

Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or environments with many connected devices, ensuring stable communication without overloading your Wi-Fi router.

Zigbee 3.0 is highly optimized for low energy consumption, making it perfect for battery-operated devices such as:

Thanks to Zigbee’s efficient protocol, many battery-powered devices can run for several years on a single coin-cell battery, minimizing maintenance and replacement costs.

Zigbee 3.0 introduces improved security measures:

This ensures that communication between your smart devices and hub remains private and resistant to hacking, making Zigbee a trustworthy choice for critical smart home automations like door locks and alarm systems.

Unlike many Wi-Fi smart devices that require constant cloud connectivity, Zigbee 3.0 devices mostly can operate locally through the hub. Advantages include:

This local-first approach offers resilience and speed that cloud-reliant platforms can't match. Sonoff's Zigbee Bridge Pro and Zigbee Bridge Ultra also supports this local automation feature, and scenes between Zigbee devices run locally even if internet connection is temporarily broken.

A single Zigbee network can support typically more devices than a single Wi-Fi router. Depending on the Zigbee architecture, a Zigbee network can even include hundreds of devices (typically around 200 per network, depending on the gateway and additional Zigbee routers). As a result, Zigbee 3.0 is well-suited for users planning to scale their smart homes with many switches, lights, sensors, and other devices.

Zigbee 3.0 is part of the broader trend toward standardized IoT communication. It also forms the foundation for newer initiatives like Matter (the emerging smart home standard), which promises even more cross-brand compatibility in the future.

Investing in Zigbee 3.0 devices today helps ensure that your smart home setup remains compatible and relevant as the industry evolves.

Smart devices with Zigbee 3.0 chips offer a powerful combination of broad compatibility, local control, energy efficiency, and strong security. Thanks to the unified Zigbee 3.0 standard, eWeLink's Zigbee devices can also be used in third party ecosystems, all while enjoying reliable mesh networking and extended battery life.

For users who prioritize interoperability, privacy, and future-proof flexibility, Zigbee 3.0 devices present one of the most robust solutions available in today’s smart home landscape.