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TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE vs MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN scores 7.2/10 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 noise and efficiency and poE.

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on firmware and support.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE scores 8/10 to the MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN's 3/10.

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 CRS310-8G+2S+IN

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

7.2/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN is for homelabbers and small-office admins who want 2.5GbE access ports with 10G SFP+ uplinks. It suits people who are happy to configure VLANs, link aggregation and ACLs in RouterOS. It is a poorer fit for anyone who needs PoE or wants a low-power, set-and-forget switch.

Typically about £185.57 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 CRS310-8G+2S+IN
Port speeds30%6/109/10
Management20%7/109/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/103/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall6.3/107.2/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PEMikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)8 x 2.5GbE RJ45 plus 2 x SFP+, and one USB type-A port
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listedRJ45 ports 2.5G; SFP+ cages support 1G, 2.5G and 10G
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryRouterOS v7 or SwitchOS; VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules on RouterOS
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/atnot listed
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x SFP+
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC tableNon-blocking Layer 1 capacity 80000 Mbps; Layer 2 about 78,959.7 Mbps at 1518-byte frames
CoolingFanless design with metal casing1 fan

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 CRS310-8G+2S+IN

  • + Eight 2.5GbE ports plus two 10G-capable SFP+ cages
  • + RouterOS offers VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules
  • + Wide 18–57 V DC input and -40°C to +60°C range
  • − One fan, and owners report higher power draw than expected
  • − Owners report 2.5G link negotiation problems
  • − No PoE listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone who wants a quiet, low-power switch for a living space
  • Buyers who want a simple unmanaged switch with no configuration
Read the full MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN review ›

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