Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi - What the New Version Brings
At the end of 2025, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) introduced the long-awaited Zigbee 4.0 version along with a new brand called Suzi (Sub-GHz + Zigbee). This is the most significant update to the Zigbee protocol in recent years, bringing several exciting features for smart home users.
In this article, we'll explore what's new in Zigbee 4.0 and, most importantly, whether it makes sense to wait for new devices or continue building your Zigbee network on the current version 3.0.
Zigbee 4.0 was officially announced on November 18, 2025. The Suzi certification program is expected to start in the first half of 2026. Specific availability dates for the first certified devices have not yet been officially announced.
What's New in Zigbee 4.0?
Let's go through the main features that Zigbee 4.0 brings compared to the current version 3.0.
1. Zigbee Direct as Standard
Zigbee Direct is a feature first introduced two years ago as an optional extension to Zigbee 3.0. In the new version 4.0, it becomes a mandatory part of the standard.
What does this mean in practice?
With Zigbee Direct, you can:
- ✅ Pair Zigbee devices directly from your smartphone via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- ✅ Control devices without a coordinator - for example, when Home Assistant is unavailable
- ✅ Configure devices before adding them to the network
- ✅ Diagnose problems directly from a mobile app
Zigbee Direct is an excellent feature, especially for installers and advanced users. Imagine installing dozens of lights in a new building - you can pre-configure them all in a mobile app and only then add them to the network in bulk. That's a huge time saver!
Usage example
Scenario: You have a new Zigbee bulb you want to add to Home Assistant.
Without Zigbee Direct (Zigbee 3.0):
- Start pairing mode in Home Assistant
- Turn on the bulb
- Wait for it to pair
- Rename in Home Assistant
With Zigbee Direct (Zigbee 4.0):
- Turn on the bulb
- Open the manufacturer's mobile app
- Set name, room, basic configuration
- Add to Home Assistant with one click
2. Batch Commissioning - Adding Multiple Devices at Once
Another revolutionary feature is Batch Commissioning, which allows adding multiple devices to the network simultaneously.
How does it work?
Imagine this situation: An electrician installs smart lighting throughout a house. They mount 50 Zigbee bulbs in fixtures, but the house doesn't have power yet. With Batch Commissioning, they can:
- Pre-register all installed devices (e.g., from QR codes)
- Once the house is powered and the coordinator connected, activate all devices at once
- All bulbs automatically join the network within minutes
Zigbee 3.0: Each bulb must be added individually - 50 bulbs = 50× repeat pairing
Zigbee 4.0: Activate all 50 bulbs with one click
Practical applications
Batch Commissioning is especially useful for:
- 🏗️ New construction - installing dozens of devices before handover
- 🏢 Commercial properties - hotels, offices, schools
- 🔧 Renovations - replacing many devices at once
- 🏠 Larger homes - if you're installing 20+ bulbs
3. Enhanced Security
Zigbee 4.0 brings several security improvements:
- 🔐 Stronger encryption - advanced AES encryption for critical data
- 🔑 Better key management - more secure network key distribution
- 🛡️ Replay attack protection - prevention of captured message repetition
For average home automation users, Zigbee 3.0 is already sufficiently secure. Improvements in 4.0 are mainly aimed at commercial and industrial use, where security requirements are much stricter.
4. Better Battery Life
Zigbee 4.0 optimizes the communication protocol so battery-powered devices can:
- ⏱️ Communicate on schedule - devices wake up only at set times
- 💤 Sleep longer - between communications
- 🔋 Save energy - smarter radio module management
Zigbee 4.0 optimizes communication so battery-powered devices can work more efficiently and last longer. This should significantly extend the time between battery changes for door sensors, motion sensors, and other battery-powered devices.
5. Backward Compatibility
Very important information for anyone already running a Zigbee network:
✅ Zigbee 4.0 is fully compatible with Zigbee 3.0
✅ You can mix 3.0 and 4.0 devices in one network
✅ Some devices can be upgraded OTA to 4.0
Not all Zigbee 3.0 devices can be updated to 4.0. It depends on:
- Hardware capabilities of the device (sufficient memory, processor)
- Manufacturer support - they must actively release firmware
For Zigbee Direct, devices need a Bluetooth Low Energy chip - older Zigbee devices don't have this.
Suzi - Revolution in Zigbee Range
Besides Zigbee 4.0, a new brand called Suzi (acronym for Sub-GHz + Zigbee) was also introduced, bringing perhaps an even more important innovation than version 4.0 itself.
What is Suzi?
Suzi is a designation for Zigbee devices that, in addition to the standard 2.4 GHz band, also support:
- 📡 800 MHz band (Europe)
- 📡 900 MHz band (North America)
Why is this important?
Current Zigbee devices operate exclusively on the 2.4 GHz frequency, just like WiFi and Bluetooth. This frequency has its disadvantages:
2.4 GHz - disadvantages:
- ❌ Poor penetration through walls and obstacles
- ❌ Heavy interference from WiFi and Bluetooth
- ❌ Limited range (approx. 10-30m indoor)
- ❌ Problems in densely populated areas
Sub-GHz (800/900 MHz) - advantages:
- ✅ Excellent penetration through walls and floors
- ✅ Minimal interference
- ✅ Several times greater range (100m+)
- ✅ More reliable in challenging environments
Practical Examples of Suzi Use
Let's look at where Suzi devices could solve problems we face today:
Scenario 1: Garage 40 meters from house
Problem with Zigbee 3.0 (2.4 GHz):
- Distance of 40m through walls and yard
- Insufficient signal
- Must install 2-3 routers between house and garage
Solution with Suzi (Sub-GHz):
- One Suzi sensor on garage door communicates directly with coordinator
- No intermediate routers needed
- Reliable signal through all obstacles
Scenario 2: Basement rooms
Problem with Zigbee 3.0 (2.4 GHz):
- Thick concrete floors and walls
- Signal barely reaches basement
- High failure rate
Solution with Suzi (Sub-GHz):
- Sub-GHz waves penetrate concrete much better
- Stable connection even from basement to 1st floor
Scenario 3: Garden shed
Problem with Zigbee 3.0 (2.4 GHz):
- Distance of 30m across yard
- Obstacles: trees, fence, walls
- Unstable connection, frequent dropouts
Solution with Suzi (Sub-GHz):
- Direct connection without problems
- Reliable garden lighting automation
- Soil moisture sensors without dropouts
Comparison of 2.4 GHz vs Sub-GHz
| Property | 2.4 GHz (classic Zigbee) | Sub-GHz (Suzi) |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Standard | Substantially higher |
| Wall penetration | Limited | Excellent |
| Interference | High (WiFi, BT) | Minimal |
| Transfer speed | Higher | Lower |
| Power consumption | Standard | Slightly higher |
| Ideal for | Indoor spaces | Large buildings, outdoor |
Suzi devices don't stop supporting 2.4 GHz - they combine both frequencies! They can use:
- 2.4 GHz for fast short-range communication
- Sub-GHz for long range and obstacle penetration
The coordinator automatically selects the best frequency for the situation.
Where does Suzi make the most sense?
Suzi won't be suitable for everyone. Here's an overview of when I recommend considering it:
✅ I recommend Suzi for:
- 🏡 Extensive properties - houses with 1000m²+ plots
- 🏭 Commercial buildings - warehouses, factories, hotels
- 🌳 Outdoor installations - garden lighting, sensors
- 🏚️ Old buildings - thick walls, concrete floors
- 📍 Remote locations - garage, workshop, garden shed
❌ Suzi is not necessary for:
- 🏠 Small apartments and houses - up to 100m² has no range issues
- 🏢 Modern new builds - thin walls, good coverage
- 💰 Limited budget - Suzi devices will be more expensive
- 🔋 Battery devices - Sub-GHz has higher consumption
Suzi coordinator and devices make the most sense for outdoor automation - for example, sensors on garden gates, garage lighting, or garden sheds. For the interior of a typical home, standard 2.4 GHz Zigbee 3.0 is absolutely sufficient.
Commercial and Industrial Use
CSA explicitly mentions that Suzi is suitable for commercial and industrial environments, which is no coincidence. Let's see why:
Advantages for commercial use
Large spaces:
- 🏢 Office buildings
- 🏭 Manufacturing halls
- 🏨 Hotels
- 🏫 Schools and universities
- 🏥 Hospitals
Challenging environments:
- 🧱 Thick walls
- 🏗️ Multiple floors
- 📡 Many WiFi networks
- 🔒 Security requirements
- 🔧 Complex topology
Example: Hotel with 80 rooms
Zigbee 3.0 solution:
- Need 15-20 routers to cover entire hotel
- Frequent dropouts in remote parts of building
- Problems with interference from dozens of WiFi networks
- Complex router placement planning
Suzi solution:
- Only 3-5 Suzi routers needed
- Stable coverage of all rooms
- Minimal WiFi interference
- Simpler installation and maintenance
Even though Suzi devices will be more expensive than classic Zigbee, in commercial environments the investment quickly pays off thanks to:
- Lower installation costs (fewer routers)
- Lower failure rate
- Easier maintenance
- Better reliability
Impact on Home Assistant
Now we get to the question that probably interests every Home Assistant user: When and how will Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi be supported?
Support in ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT
ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) and Zigbee2MQTT are the main Zigbee integrations for Home Assistant. Both use open-source libraries that will need to be updated to support Zigbee 4.0.
The official timeline for Zigbee 4.0 support in ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT has not yet been announced. Support will depend on:
- Availability of Zigbee 4.0 coordinators on the market
- Implementation of new features into libraries (zigpy, zigbee-herdsman)
- Community development and testing
Historically, both integrations have quickly added support for new Zigbee devices and features, so we expect a similarly active approach to Zigbee 4.0.
Hardware Requirements
For Zigbee 4.0 (2.4 GHz):
Some current Zigbee coordinators may receive Zigbee 4.0 support through firmware updates, but it depends on the manufacturer. Not all current coordinators have sufficient hardware for all new features (e.g., Zigbee Direct requires a BLE chip).
For Suzi (Sub-GHz):
To use Suzi, you'll need a new dual-band coordinator that supports both 2.4 GHz and Sub-GHz (800/900 MHz). Current coordinators cannot be upgraded to Suzi because they lack the necessary Sub-GHz hardware.
Migrating Existing Network
Worried you'll have to pair everything again? Good news!
✅ Thanks to backward compatibility, you can:
- Continue using Zigbee 3.0 devices with a Zigbee 4.0 coordinator
- Gradually add new Zigbee 4.0 devices to your existing network
- Mix 3.0 and 4.0 devices without problems
If you want to replace your coordinator with a newer one, backup migration works within the same coordinator type:
- EmberZNet → EmberZNet ✅
- Texas Instruments → Texas Instruments ✅
- deCONZ → deCONZ ✅
- EmberZNet → deCONZ ❌
More information can be found in the articles about ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT.
Comparison with Competition - Matter over Thread
There's often discussion about whether Zigbee or Matter over Thread is better. Let's see how Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi change this discussion.
Zigbee 4.0 vs Matter over Thread
| Property | Zigbee 4.0 | Matter over Thread |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Range | Medium | Medium |
| Mesh network | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Backward compatibility | ✅ Zigbee 3.0 | ❌ None (new standard) |
| Number of devices | 2000+ | ~100 (growing) |
| Direct smartphone pairing | ✅ Zigbee Direct | ✅ Standard |
| HA integration | ✅ Mature (ZHA, Z2M) | ⚠️ Developing |
Suzi vs Matter over Thread
This is where it gets interesting! Suzi brings a competitive advantage that Matter over Thread (for now) doesn't have:
| Property | Suzi | Matter over Thread |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz + Sub-GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Range | Very large (Sub-GHz) | Medium |
| Wall penetration | Excellent | Medium |
| Interference | Minimal (Sub-GHz) | High |
| Ideal for outdoor | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
| Commercial use | ✅ Strong | ⚠️ Developing |
After the Suzi announcement, it appears that Zigbee has a long-term future ahead. Sub-GHz support is a huge advantage that Matter over Thread won't have in the foreseeable future. For outdoor use and large buildings, Suzi is the clear choice.
For small apartments and houses, Matter over Thread will still be a good choice thanks to its simplicity and direct manufacturer support (Apple, Google, Samsung).
When to choose what?
Choose Zigbee 4.0 + Suzi if:
- 🏡 You have an extensive property (500m²+ plot)
- 🌳 You need outdoor automation with long range
- 🏭 Installing in commercial or industrial environment
- 🔧 You want maximum reliability and range
- 💾 You have many Zigbee 3.0 devices (investment protected by compatibility)
- 🛠️ You're an advanced Home Assistant user
Choose Matter over Thread if:
- 🏢 You have a small apartment or house (up to 150m²)
- 📱 You want simplicity and direct manufacturer support
- 🍎 You use Apple HomeKit or Google Home as primary system
- 🆕 Building a new smart home from scratch
- 🔮 You want to be prepared for the future (more manufacturers transitioning to Matter)
You can combine both!
Home Assistant allows using Zigbee and Matter simultaneously:
- Zigbee/Suzi for lighting, sensors, plugs
- Matter over Thread for locks, cameras, special devices
- Everything controlled from one place - Home Assistant
Is it worth waiting for Zigbee 4.0?
Now we get to the practical question: Should I wait for Zigbee 4.0 devices, or can I safely buy 3.0?
✅ You can safely buy Zigbee 3.0 if:
- 🏠 You have a regular house/apartment - for standard use, 3.0 is absolutely sufficient
- 💰 You want to save money - Zigbee 4.0 devices will be more expensive initially
- ⏰ You need it now - availability of first certified devices is not yet clear
- 🔄 Backward compatibility - 3.0 will work with 4.0 coordinators in the future
For most users, there's no reason to stop buying Zigbee 3.0 devices. For typical use, they work perfectly and backward compatibility is guaranteed. Once 4.0 devices are available at reasonable prices (likely 2027+), you can start gradually adding them to your existing network.
⏳ Wait for Zigbee 4.0 if:
- 🏗️ Planning a large installation - e.g., new construction with 50+ devices (you'll utilize Batch Commissioning)
- 🏭 Need it for commercial use - higher security and Batch Commissioning save time and money
- 🔧 You're an early adopter - you enjoy trying the latest technologies
- 💰 Budget is not a constraint - 4.0 devices will be more expensive the first year
⭐ Definitely wait for Suzi if:
- 🌳 You need outdoor range - garage, garden, workshop 30m+ from house
- 🏚️ You have signal problems - thick walls, concrete, large spaces
- 📍 Installing in challenging environment - basement, attic, commercial building
- 🔌 Don't want to chain routers - Suzi reaches where 3.0 needs 3 routers
Suzi devices will be available later than regular Zigbee 4.0! The certification program starts in the first half of 2026. Specific availability dates for the first certified Suzi devices on the market have not yet been officially announced.
Assessment and Future Outlook
Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi represent a significant update that advances Zigbee technology and expands its capabilities.
Key Features
-
Suzi (Sub-GHz support) - Major improvement for outdoor use and large buildings. Reliable connectivity without the need to chain routers.
-
Batch Commissioning - Huge time saver for large installations. Ability to add dozens of devices at once.
-
Zigbee Direct as standard - Mobile apps gain more purpose. Pairing and diagnostics will be simpler.
-
Backward compatibility - You can mix 3.0 and 4.0 devices without problems. Investment in Zigbee 3.0 remains protected.
Expectations and Reality
What is clear:
- ✅ Zigbee 4.0 is a finished standard (November 2025)
- ✅ Suzi certification program starts in first half of 2026
- ✅ Full backward compatibility with Zigbee 3.0
- ✅ Suzi requires new hardware with Sub-GHz
What is not yet clear:
- ❓ Specific availability dates for first devices
- ❓ Prices of new devices and coordinators
- ❓ Support timeline in Home Assistant (ZHA/Zigbee2MQTT)
- ❓ Which current coordinators will get 4.0 update
Recommendations
For regular users:
- ✅ Feel free to continue buying Zigbee 3.0 devices
- ✅ Wait with coordinator upgrade until prices and availability are clear
- ✅ Monitor development of support in Home Assistant
For commercial installations:
- 🏢 Wait for Suzi - ROI may be quick
- 🏢 Batch Commissioning will save hours of work
- 🏢 Sub-GHz will greatly simplify coverage planning
Future of Zigbee
Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi show that Zigbee still has much to offer:
- 🎯 Maturity - 20+ years of development, stability, huge number of devices
- 🌍 Sub-GHz - competitive advantage that Matter over Thread doesn't have
- 🏭 Commercial market - strong position in industry and large installations
- 🔄 Compatibility - protection of user investments
Related articles
If you want to learn more about Zigbee in Home Assistant, check out these articles:
- Zigbee in Home Assistant - introduction - Zigbee protocol basics and network topology
- ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) - official Zigbee integration for beginners
- Zigbee2MQTT - most popular alternative with largest device support
- deCONZ - Zigbee solution with nice user interface
- Zigbee recommended hardware - tested coordinators, bulbs, and sensors
This article will be continuously updated with new information about:
- 📅 Availability of first Zigbee 4.0 and Suzi devices
- 🛠️ Support in Home Assistant (ZHA/Zigbee2MQTT)
- 💰 Prices of coordinators and devices
- 🧪 Practical tests and experiences
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