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TP-Link LS108GP vs Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link LS108GP at 6.0/10.

The TP-Link LS108GP leads on noise and efficiency and poE.

The Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on firmware and support.

The biggest difference is port count and uplinks, where the Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 scores 8/10 to the TP-Link LS108GP's 5/10.

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

Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8

Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8

6.9/10verdict: buy

The UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 is for people who run a UniFi setup and want eight 2.5G ports in a small switch. It adds a 10G combo uplink, which suits a link back to a faster switch or router. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs PoE output, a CLI or a standalone web interface.

Typically about £150 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 LS108GPUbiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%5/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/106/10
PoE10%6/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall6.0/106.9/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link LS108GPUbiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8
Ports8x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports (ports 1-8 support 802.3af/at PoE+)8 access ports (2.5G/1G/100M/10M) plus one 10G RJ45/SFP+ combo uplink
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps auto-negotiation, auto MDI/MDIXAccess ports 2.5G/1G/100M/10M; uplink RJ45 10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M; SFP+ 10G/1G
ManagementUnmanaged, plug-and-play; no VLAN support listedSpec sheet lists management interface as Ethernet only; managed through the UniFi console, and a reviewer of the PoE variant reports no web UI
PoE budget62 W total PoE budget, up to 30 W per port, 802.3af/atNo PoE output; powered by USB-C 5V DC 3A or PoE+ input
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedOne 10G SFP+ port (10G/1G) and one 10 GbE RJ45 port, as a combo uplink
Switching capacity16 Gbps switching capacity, 11.9 Mpps forwarding rate, 4K MAC table, 16 KB jumbo frames60 Gbps switching capacity, 30 Gbps non-blocking throughput, 45 Mpps forwarding rate
CoolingFanless, metal casingnot listed

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 ›

Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8

  • + Eight 2.5G access ports
  • + 10G RJ45/SFP+ combo uplink
  • + Small and light, with flexible power options
  • − No PoE output
  • − Needs UniFi console; no CLI or SSH reported
  • − Owners report limited features, no aggregation

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE output to power access points or cameras
  • Admins who want CLI, SSH or a standalone web interface
  • Anyone who needs link aggregation or several 10G uplinks
Read the full Ubiquiti UniFi Flex 2.5G USW-Flex-2.5G-8 review ›

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