Silicon Labs
  • Products & PlatformsProducts &
    Platforms
    1. Platform
    2. Hardware
    3. Software
    4. Security
    5. Ecosystems
    6. Services
    1. Platform
    Connectivity Platform
    Featured image
    Hardware, Software and Tools
    Conquer common development challenges with our platform
    IoT Lifecycle Management
    Featured image
    From Design to Decommission
    Partner with us for your devices' entire lifecycle
    How To Buy
    Featured image
    Easily Purchase
    Buy directly from us or a trusted distributor
    RESOURCES
    Technical Library
    Data Sheets, App Notes, & More
    Software Documentation
    Development Kits
    Quality Information
    Community
    User Forums & Knowledge Base
    1. Hardware
    Wireless Connectivity
    Bluetooth
    Matter
    Multiprotocol
    Proprietary
    Thread
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-SUN
    Xpress
    Z-Wave
    Zigbee
    All Wireless
    Microcontrollers
    8-bit MCU
    32-bit MCU
    Other Hardware
    Sensors
    Interface
    Power Management ICs
    All Products
    Divested Products
    Broadcast
    Isolation
    Timing
    RESOURCES
    Technical Library
    Data Sheets, App Notes, & More
    Software Documentation
    Development Kits
    CAD/CAE Schematic Footprints & Symbols
    Simplicity Studio & Other Software
    Quality & Environment
    Community
    User Forums & Knowledge Base
    1. Software
    SOFTWARE & TOOLS BY PART
    Featured Tool
    Featured image
    Simplicity Studio 5
    Fast track IoT development
    WIRELESS SOFTWARE
    Bluetooth
    Matter
    Multiprotocol
    Proprietary
    Thread
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-SUN
    Xpress
    Z-Wave
    Zigbee
    Mobile Applications
    EFR Connect
    Bluetooth Mesh
    Xpress
    Gateways
    Unify SDK
    Z-Wave Controller SDK
    Additional Software
    Machine Learning
    All SDKs
    MCUs
    Interface
    RTOS
    Resources
    Developer Center
    Software Documentation
    Release Notes
    Technical Library
    Product Security
    Development Tools
    GitHub
    1. Security
    Security Overview
    Featured image
    Fundamentals of IoT Security
    Discover how to address evolving security threats
    Secure Vault
    Featured image
    Industry-Leading Security Suite
    Secure your devices throughout their lifecycle
    Accreditations
    Featured image
    Third Party Endorsements
    Learn about our security accreditations and recognition
    Report a Vulnerability
    Featured image
    Product Security Incidents
    Report security issues found with our products
    1. Ecosystems
    Ecosytems
    Featured image
    Ecosystems that Define the IoT
    Acceletate your IoT business with the world's most popular ecosystems
    Ecosystem Partner
    Featured image
    Amazon Sidewalk
    Extend IoT device range with Amazon Sidewalk
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    1. Services
    CPMS
    Featured image
    Custom Part Manufacturing Services
    Secure provisioning services to customize your parts
    LTSSS
    Featured image
    Long Term SDK Support Services
    Maintain robust security and up-to-date software and device certifications for up to 10 years
  • ApplicationsApplications
    1. Smart Cities
    2. Industrial IoT
    3. Smart Retail
    4. Smart Home
    5. Connected Health
    6. Enabling Technologies
    1. Smart Cities
    Smart Cities
    Battery Storage
    EV Charging Stations
    Smart Buildings
    Smart Metering
    Solar Panels
    Street Lighting
    All Smart Cities
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Case Study
    Featured image
    Smart Connected Street Lighting in Brazil
    1. Industrial IoT
    Industrial IoT
    Access Control
    Circuit Breakers
    Commercial Lighting
    Electric Submetering
    Human Machine Interface
    HVAC
    Predictive Maintenance
    All Industrial IoT
    Whitepaper
    Featured image
    Low-Power Wi-Fi for Industrial IoT Connectivity
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    1. Smart Retail
    Smart Retail
    Commercial Lighting
    Direction Finding
    Electronic Shelf Labels
    Loss Prevention
    All Retail
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Case Study
    Featured image
    Electronic Shelf Label Technology Improves Retail Efficiency
    1. Smart Home
    Smart Home
    Appliances
    Door Locks
    LED Bulbs
    Sensors
    Switches
    All Smart Home
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Webinar
    Featured image
    Matter - How to Go From Smart Home Silos to One Unified Wireless Ecosystem
    1. Connected Health
    Connected Health
    Portable Medical Devices
    Smart Hospitals
    All Connected Health
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Analyst Report
    Featured image
    The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) at the Heart of Digital Healthcare
    On-Demand WEBINAR
    Featured image
    How IoT Transforms Hospitals Into Operationally Aware Facilities
    1. Enabling Technologies
    Tell Me About...
    The IoT
    Security
    Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
    Multiprotocol
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Case Study
    Featured image
    Bluetooth Car Seat Sensor Increases Safety
  • PartnersPartners
    Partners
    Alliances
    Channel & Distribution
    Design Partners
    Ecosystems
    Technology Partners
    All Partners
    EVENT
    Featured image
    Register Now for Works With Virtual 2022: Where Innovation Meets Implementation
    Customers
    Featured image
    Our Customers
    Your decades-long partner in IoT development
    Featured Partners
    Featured image
    Partner Search
    Access to our pre-screened, qualified and certified third-party design service companies.
  • Learn & SupportLearn &
    Support
    Support
    Community
    Technical Library
    Quality & Packaging
    Submit a Ticket
    Webinars
    Whitepapers
    All Support
    Developers
    Software Documentation
    Release Notes
    Development Tools
    Product Security
    GitHub
    Product Training
    Wireless
    MCU
    All Training
    Industry Training
    Works With Conference
    Smart Home
    Smart Cities
    Smart Industry
  • CompanyCompany
    Overview
    Our Story
    Mission
    Values
    Achievements
    Corporate Responsibility
    Contact Us
    People
    Careers
    Culture
    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    Leadership
    Financials
    Environmental, Social & Governance
    Investor & Analyst Relations
    Reports
    News & Events
    Blog
    Events
    Press Room
    Works With 2022
How to Buy
English
  • English
  • 简体中文
  • 日本語
//
Wireless // Multiprotocol Connectivity // Mesh Performance Learning Center

Benchmarking Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, and Zigbee Network Performance

Bluetooth mesh , Thread, and Zigbee are popular mesh networking standards used to add wireless connectivity to building and home automation products. Silicon Labs conducted mesh network performance testing to help developers better understand difficult-to-predict wireless behavior and make more informed choices when designing products for the IoT.

Webinar: Benchmarking Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, and Zigbee Network Performance

Learn about performance results and additional criteria for selecting the appropriate mesh networking technology.

Watch Now

Examining Mesh Networking Technology

Networking performance characteristics such as throughput, latency and the impact of network size on scalability and reliability are important factors to consider. Additional factors such as technologies used in different ecosystems, gateway interfaces and cloud connectivity should also be factored in when making a technology selection.

  Bluetooth Mesh Thread Zigbee
Market Focus Lighting and Home Automation Commercial/Industrial Home Automation, Lighting, Metering
Maturity Established 2017
Established 2015 Established 2003
Application Layer
Native Mesh Model Flexibile support for IP-based application layers like  dotdot, OCF and Nest Weave Comprehensive Zigbee Cluster Library (ZCL)
IPv6
No Yes No
Cloud Connectivity
Smartphone (Temporary) Gateway Border Router Gateway Gateway
Ecosystems
None Nest Amazon, IKEA, Phillips HUE, Samsung SmartThings, Lowes Iris, Wink, Cox, Rogers, Deutsch Telekom (Qivicon) and others
Routing
Managed Flooding Full Routing Full Routing
Additional Notes
Beaconing, Direct Phone Connectivity — Most Mature

Whitepaper: Selecting the Appropriate Wireless Mesh Networking Technology

Examine the key factors such as technical strengths, maturity in the marketplace and established deployments to determine the appropriate technology for your needs.

Learn More

Comparing The Performance of Mesh Networking Standards

Benchmark Requirements

  • Utilize real-world environment with varying Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee network activity
  • Synchronize time stamps across all nodes in the network with Ethernet backchannel and packet tracing
  • Measure performance across varying throughput and latency configurations
  • Correlate energy measurements with wireless traffic for improved system characterization

Results Overview

  • Thread, Zigbee, and Bluetooth mesh perform similarly in small networks under small payloads
  • Thread and Zigbee outperform Bluetooth mesh when payload and throughput needs increase
  • Latency increases for all three as network size grows, but Bluetooth mesh experiences the largest increase
  • Selecting your IoT wireless connectivity solution should include additional criteria such as expected ecosystems and power consumption requirements
  • For large Bluetooth mesh networks relay optimization can be used to optimize performance
  • Bluetooth mesh works best when short messages (<=11B) are used especially for multicast messages


Testing Network Performance

Tests were conducted using Silicon Labs’ Wireless Gecko SoC platform capable of running Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, Zigbee, and Proprietary protocols. Silicon Labs Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, and Zigbee software stacks were utilized. The test environment was a commercial office building with active Wi-Fi and Zigbee networks in range. Wireless test clusters were deployed in hallways, meeting rooms, offices, and open areas.



Benchmarking Results

×

Throughput for 100-Byte Payload

  • Typical networks consist of two to three hops
  • Throughput varies based on number of hops
  • Protocol performance becomes similar as number of hops increase
  • Bluetooth mesh small packet payload results in reduced throughput


Latency over Four Hops

  • All protocols provide similar latency for very small payloads
  • Thread fragmentation (6LowPAN) achieves the best efficiency and latency performance as payload size increases
  • Zigbee has good efficiency but some application layer fragmentation
  • Bluetooth mesh latency degrades as payload size increases due to small packet size and resulting segmentation
×


×

Small Network with Small Payload

  • All three peak below 50 milliseconds (ms)
  • All spread up to 90 ms, well under the market target of 200 ms
  • Multicast for all protocols provides very high reliability


Small Network with Moderate Payload

  • Thread performs the best with latency up to 100 milliseconds (ms)
  • Zigbee performs well – most packets received with 80 ms latency, spreading up to 130 ms
  • Bluetooth mesh latency has the greatest variation, 20 to 200 ms
×


×

Large Network with Small Payload

  • Thread performs best with latency up to 100 ms
  • Zigbee performs well – most packets received with 80 ms latency, spreading up to 130 ms
  • Bluetooth mesh latency peaks at 60 ms, spreading past 250 ms
  • All 192 nodes were Bluetooth mesh relays and no relay optimization was used


Large Network with Moderate Payload

  • Thread performs the best with latency spreading up to 100 ms
  • Zigbee performs well – most packets received with 80 ms latency, spreading up to 130 ms
  • Bluetooth mesh latency peaks at 60 ms, spreading past 250 ms
  • All 192 nodes were Bluetooth mesh relays and no relay optimization was used
×


Application Note

Bluetooth Mesh Network Performance

Read More

Application Note

Thread Network Performance

Read More

Application Note

Zigbee Network Performance

Read More

Application Note

Mesh Network Performance Comparison

Read More

Silicon Labs
Stay Connected With Us
Plug into the latest on Silicon Labs products, including product releases and resources, documentation updates, PCN notifications, upcoming events, and more.
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies
  • Corporate Responsibility
  • Investor Relations
  • Press Room
  • Privacy and Terms
  • Site Feedback
Note: This content may contain offensive terminology that is now obsolete. Silicon Labs is replacing these terms with inclusive language wherever possible. for more information, visit our webpage.
Copyright © Silicon Laboratories. All rights reserved.
粤ICP备15107361号
Also of Interest:
  • Wireless
  • Managing Coexistence Between Wi-Fi, Zigbee,...
  • Benchmarking Bluetooth Mesh vs Thread vs...

Your File Will Start Downloading Shortly

Thank you for downloading .

If you have any issues downloading, please contact sales support or product technical support.

Close
Loading Results
Close

Please select at least one column.