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5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+ vs NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

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

both judged against network switches at a similar price

The 5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+ and NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108) both score 6.3/10 overall.

The 5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+ leads on management and poE.

The NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108) leads on noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

They score the same on port speeds and port count and uplinks.

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

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

6.3/10verdict: wait for deal

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

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

6.3/10verdict: wait for deal

The NETGEAR GS108 is for anyone who needs eight more wired Gigabit ports with no configuration. It suits a desk, a media cabinet or a small lab where quiet running matters. It does not suit buyers who need VLANs, PoE or ports faster than Gigabit.

Typically about £24.99 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeight5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)
Port speeds30%6/106/10
Management20%7/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/107/10
Overall6.3/106.3/10

Specifications

Spec5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)8 Gigabit RJ-45 copper ports
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed10/100/1000 Mbps on each port
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryUnmanaged, no VLANs
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/atNone (PoE ports n/a, PoE budget n/a)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedNone listed; Gigabit copper only, no SFP or SFP+ port
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC table16 Gbps
CoolingFanless design with metal casingFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

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

  • + 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 5-Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch with 4-Port PoE+ review ›

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

  • + Fanless, with acoustic noise listed as 0
  • + Plug-and-play setup with nothing to configure
  • + Limited lifetime warranty and 90 days of support
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplink
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLANs
  • − Owners report failures in older revisions after a few years

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management
  • Anyone powering access points or cameras who needs PoE
  • Users with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices, or who want an SFP uplink
Read the full NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108) review ›

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