Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch vs Zyxel XMG1915-10E

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 7.4/10 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 firmware and support.

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on noise and efficiency and poE.

The biggest difference is port count and uplinks, where the Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 8/10 to the NETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch's 5/10.

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 (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

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

Zyxel XMG1915-10E

Zyxel XMG1915-10E

7.4/10verdict: buy

The Zyxel XMG1915-10E is for people who want 2.5GbE on most ports and 10G uplinks in a quiet, fanless switch. It suits homelabbers and small offices whose devices bring their own power, since it has no PoE. It does not offer copper 10GbE, so buyers who want that need to look at SFP+ modules or other models.

Typically about £189 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 SwitchZyxel XMG1915-10E
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%5/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.0/107.4/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS305v3 5-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchZyxel XMG1915-10E
Ports58 x 100M/1G/2.5G RJ-45 plus 2 x 1G SFP/10G SFP+ (10 total)
Port speedsGigabit (5 x 10/100/1000Mbps ports, Auto Uplink)100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps on the eight copper ports; SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G
ManagementUnmanagedSmart Managed
PoE budgetNot applicable (PoE budget N/A)None (0 PoE ports)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x 1G SFP / 10G SFP+
Switching capacityNon-blocking bandwidth 10 Gbps80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.5 Mpps forwarding rate
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 ›

Zyxel XMG1915-10E

  • + Eight 2.5GbE copper ports
  • + Two SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G
  • + Fanless, quiet, low power draw
  • − No PoE ports
  • − No copper 10GbE ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE to power access points or cameras
  • Buyers who want copper 10GbE ports rather than SFP+ slots
  • Buyers who need more than ten ports on one switch
Read the full Zyxel XMG1915-10E review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches