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TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE vs NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE scores 6.3/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch at 6.1/10.

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

The NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch leads on port speeds, noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

They score the same on port count and uplinks.

The biggest difference is management, where the TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE scores 7/10 to the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch's 4/10.

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

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR MS305 is for anyone who wants to move a small wired network to 2.5GbE without configuring anything. It suits a desk, a home office or a homelab shelf where five ports and silence matter more than VLANs or PoE. Buyers who need segmentation, powered devices or fibre uplinks should look at other models.

Typically about £127.77 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-SG105PENETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%7/104/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/106/10
Overall6.3/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PENETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)5 copper RJ-45 ports
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed100M/1G/2.5G on each port
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryUnmanaged
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/atNone (non-PoE switch)
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC table25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer
CoolingFanless design with metal casingFanless

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 ›

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

  • + 2.5G on all five ports with 1G fallback
  • + Fanless and silent, according to owners
  • + 3-year hardware warranty
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLAN support
  • − No PoE on any port
  • − No SFP or SFP+ uplink ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management features
  • Anyone planning to power access points or cameras over PoE
  • People who want SFP or SFP+ uplinks or more than five ports
Read the full NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch review ›

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