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TP-Link LS108GP 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 NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch scores 6.1/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link LS108GP at 6.0/10.

The TP-Link LS108GP leads on management and poE.

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

They score the same on port count and uplinks and noise and efficiency.

LS108GP

TP-Link LS108GP

6.0/10verdict: good, not the best

The LS108GP is for anyone who wants a small, silent, plug-and-play switch that also powers a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It suits desks, shelves and quiet rooms where a fan would be a nuisance. It doesn't suit buyers who need VLANs, faster-than-gigabit ports 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 LS108GPNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%5/104/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/106/10
Overall6.0/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link LS108GPNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Ports8x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports (ports 1-8 support 802.3af/at PoE+)5 copper RJ-45 ports
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps auto-negotiation, auto MDI/MDIX100M/1G/2.5G on each port
ManagementUnmanaged, plug-and-play; no VLAN support listedUnmanaged
PoE budget62 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port, 802.3af/atNone (non-PoE switch)
Switching capacity16 Gbps switching capacity, 11.9 Mpps forwarding rate, 4K MAC table, 16 KB jumbo frames25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer
CoolingFanless, metal casingFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link LS108GP

  • + Fanless metal case; owners praise silent operation
  • + All eight gigabit ports support 802.3af/at PoE
  • + Plug-and-play setup with IGMP snooping and QoS
  • − Shared 62 W PoE budget limits high-draw devices
  • − Unmanaged, with no VLAN support listed
  • − No SFP uplink or faster-than-gigabit ports listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or other managed-switch features
  • Anyone powering several high-draw PoE devices from one switch
  • Users who want 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplinks
Read the full TP-Link LS108GP 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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