NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch at 6.0/10.

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

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and poE.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2's 3/10.

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

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	NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch	TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Port speeds	30%	6/10	8/10
Management	20%	5/10	8/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	5/10	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		6.0/10	6.8/10

Specifications

Spec	NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch	TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Ports	5	8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports)
Port speeds	Gigabit (5 x 10/100/1000Mbps ports, Auto Uplink)	RJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps
Management	Unmanaged	L2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X
PoE budget	Not applicable (PoE budget N/A)	240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	not listed	2x 10 Gbps SFP+
Switching capacity	Non-blocking bandwidth 10 Gbps	80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table
Cooling	Fanless	Two fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless

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-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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