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TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE vs MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE at 6.3/10.

The TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE leads on poE.

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and firmware and support.

They score the same on noise and efficiency.

The biggest difference is port speeds, where the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 9/10 to the TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE's 6/10.

5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+

TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

This TP-Link switch suits a small home or office network that needs a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It adds VLANs, QoS and IGMP snooping to a five-port gigabit layout without a fan. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs faster-than-gigabit ports, fibre uplinks or a large PoE budget.

Typically about £39.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

7.8/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN is for homelabbers and sysadmins who need a few 10G SFP+ links on a small, silent switch. It suits anyone who wants to link a server, NAS or workstation at 10G and is happy to configure RouterOS or SwitchOS. It is not aimed at buyers who need many ports, PoE output or fast routing for a gigabit internet connection.

Typically about £121.19 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PEMikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN
Port speeds30%6/109/10
Management20%7/109/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/106/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/108/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/107/10
Overall6.3/107.8/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PEMikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)Four SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listedGigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryRouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBox
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/atNo published PoE output budget; accepts PoE (802.3af/at) input on its Gigabit port with 12–57 V input; maximum consumption 18 W, or 10 W without attachments
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedFour SFP+ cages; modules not included
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC table82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughput
CoolingFanless design with metal casingPassive, fanless, metal case

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE

  • + Fanless metal casing, so no fan noise
  • + VLANs, QoS and IGMP snooping in a web UI
  • + Four PoE+ ports at up to 30 W each
  • − Gigabit only; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed
  • − No SFP/SFP+ uplink confirmed
  • − 65 W total PoE budget is shared across four ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP+ uplinks
  • People powering several high-draw PoE devices near 65 W
  • Anyone wanting controller-managed or full L3 switching
Read the full TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE review ›

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

  • + Four SFP+ cages with up to 10 Gbit per port
  • + Fanless metal case; owners praise silent, low-power running
  • + Choice of RouterOS or SwitchOS via dual boot
  • − Only five ports, and SFP+ modules are not included
  • − Owners report weak routing for gigabit internet
  • − Copper SFP+ modules reportedly run hot in the fanless case

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE output to power cameras or access points
  • Anyone who wants to route a gigabit internet connection
  • Buyers who need many ports or copper multi-gig without SFP+ modules
Read the full MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN review ›

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