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NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link TL-SG105-M2

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch and TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 both score 6.0/10 overall.

The NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch leads on management and firmware and support.

The TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 leads on port speeds.

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

NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Essentials Switch (GS305v3)

NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

6.0/10verdict: good, not the best

The GS305v3 is for anyone who needs a few extra wired Gigabit ports with no setup. It suits a desk, a media cabinet or a small office where silence matters. It does not suit people who need VLANs, PoE, SFP uplinks or more than five ports.

Typically about £13.99 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

TP-Link TL-SG105-M2

TP-Link TL-SG105-M2

6.0/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG105-M2 is for people who want a simple five-port switch with 2.5GbE on every port. It suits a desk, a small home network or a homelab that needs faster links but no VLANs or PoE. It is a plug-in switch with no management interface listed.

Typically about £43 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

CriterionWeightNETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105-M2
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%5/104/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.0/106.0/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105-M2
Ports55 RJ45 ports
Port speedsGigabit (5 x 10/100/1000Mbps ports, Auto Uplink)100Mbps / 1Gbps / 2.5Gbps, auto-negotiated, auto MDI/MDIX
ManagementUnmanagedUnmanaged
PoE budgetNot applicable (PoE budget N/A)No
Switching capacityNon-blocking bandwidth 10 Gbps25 Gbps switching capacity; 18.6 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table; 1.5 Mb packet buffer
CoolingFanlessFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

  • + Fanless and silent, as owners report
  • + Plug-and-play with no software or configuration
  • + Listed maximum draw of 2.34W, with 802.3az support
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLAN or QoS
  • − Only five ports and no SFP uplink
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5GbE or 10GbE

Skip it if:

  • Homelabbers who need VLANs, QoS or other management features
  • Buyers who need PoE to power access points or cameras
  • Anyone who needs more than five ports, SFP uplinks or links faster than Gigabit
Read the full NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch review ›

TP-Link TL-SG105-M2

  • + 2.5GbE on all five RJ45 ports
  • + Fanless, so no fan noise
  • + Auto-negotiates down to 100Mbps and 1Gbps
  • − Unmanaged, with no VLAN support listed
  • − No PoE and no SFP uplink
  • − Manufacturer page didn't state the warranty term

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs VLANs or a web management interface
  • Buyers who need PoE for access points or cameras
  • Anyone who wants 10GbE or an SFP uplink
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 review ›

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