Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

TP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PE vs Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

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 Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE at 5.9/10.

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

The Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE leads on management and noise and efficiency.

They score the same on port count and uplinks and firmware and support.

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

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE is for people already running, or planning, a UniFi setup who want a small, silent managed switch. It suits a desk, small office or home network with a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs faster than gigabit speeds, fibre uplinks or lots of PoE power.

Typically about £111 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-SG105PEUbiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE
Port speeds30%6/104/10
Management20%7/108/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall6.3/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link Easy Smart Switch TL-SG105PEUbiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE
Ports5 RJ45 ports (10/100/1000 Mbps), of which 4 are PoE+ (ports 1-4)8 RJ45 ports in total, of which 4 are PoE+
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports; no 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports listed10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports
ManagementWeb-based UI and Easy Smart Configuration Utility; VLANs (port-based, tag-based, MTU), QoS, IGMP snooping, PoE Auto RecoveryLayer 2 managed, configured through the UniFi Network Controller, in-band Ethernet management
PoE budget65 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port under 802.3af/at52 W total PoE budget; up to 30 W per PoE+ port (802.3at)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedNo SFP or SFP+ port; RJ45 networking ports only
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.44 Mpps packet forwarding rate, 2K MAC table16 Gbps switching capacity; 8 Gbps non-blocking line rate
CoolingFanless design with metal casingFanless; heat dissipation 27.3 BTU/hr excluding PoE output

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 ›

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

  • + Fanless and quiet, praised by owners
  • + Layer 2 management with VLANs through UniFi Network Controller
  • + Easy setup and quick provisioning, per owners
  • − Only four of eight ports supply PoE
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP or SFP+ uplink
  • − 52 W PoE budget may strain demanding devices

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP+ uplinks
  • Anyone powering many or high-demand PoE devices
  • People who want L3 routing on the switch itself
Read the full Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches