MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM vs TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 at 6.8/10.

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM leads on port count and uplinks, noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 leads on port speeds and poE.

They score the same on management.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2's 3/10.

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

7.4/10verdict: buy

This is for sysadmins and homelabbers who want a managed 24-port gigabit switch with two 10Gb SFP+ uplinks for a rack. It suits anyone who wants VLANs and a silent, passively cooled switch. It is a poor fit for buyers who need PoE or who plan to use it as a busy router.

Typically about £175.32 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

6.8/10verdict: buy

The TL-SG3210XHP-M2 is for people building a small rack-based network who need PoE+ and real managed-switch features. It suits setups with 2.5GbE access points or cameras and 10G SFP+ uplinks. It is a poor fit for quiet rooms because it has two fans.

Typically about £340 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM	TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Port speeds	30%	7/10	8/10
Management	20%	8/10	8/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	8/10	7/10
Noise and efficiency	15%	9/10	3/10
PoE	10%	5/10	8/10
Firmware and support	10%	6/10	5/10
Overall		7.4/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM	TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Ports	24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 2 x SFP+ ports, serial console RJ45	8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports)
Port speeds	Copper ports 1 GbE; SFP cages support 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules	RJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps
Management	Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS; configurable VLANs, port mirroring, MAC filter, bandwidth limitation	L2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X
PoE budget	not listed	240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	2 x SFP+	2x 10 Gbps SFP+
Switching capacity	Non-blocking Layer 2 capacity 86,855.7 Mbps at 1518-byte packets; 88,000 Mbps at Layer 1	80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table
Cooling	Passive	Two fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

+ Passive cooling, praised by owners as quiet and fanless
+ Two SFP+ cages for 1.25Gb and 10Gb modules
+ Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS with VLANs and port mirroring
− Routing is slow, according to owners
− No PoE listed in the specifications
− Warranty is only 1 year

Skip it if:

Buyers who need PoE ports to power access points or cameras
Anyone wanting 2.5GbE or 10GbE copper ports on every port
People planning to use the switch as their main router

Read the full MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM review ›

TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

+ Eight 2.5GbE PoE+ ports with a 240 W total budget
+ L2+ management with VLANs, static routing, ACLs and 802.1X
+ Two 10 Gbps SFP+ uplinks
− Two fans; one owner report calls it too loud for offices
− Cloud management needs a hardware controller or dedicated computer
− Update history and warranty terms aren't stated

Skip it if:

Buyers who need a silent or fanless switch for an office or desk
Anyone needing more than ten data ports on one switch
Buyers wanting cloud management without a hardware controller or dedicated computer

Read the full TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 review ›

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