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NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch vs NETGEAR GS308E

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch scores 6.3/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR GS308E at 6.2/10.

The NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch leads on firmware and support.

The NETGEAR GS308E leads on management.

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

The biggest difference is firmware and support, where the NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch scores 7/10 to the NETGEAR GS308E's 4/10.

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR GS108 is for anyone who needs eight more wired Gigabit ports with no configuration. It suits a desk, a media cabinet or a small lab where quiet running matters. It does not suit buyers who need VLANs, PoE or ports faster than Gigabit.

Typically about £24.99 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

NETGEAR GS308E

NETGEAR GS308E

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR GS308E is for people who want a small, silent eight-port Gigabit switch with basic VLAN support. It suits homes, bedrooms and desks where a fan would be a nuisance and plug-and-play setup matters. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs PoE, faster than Gigabit ports or deep Layer 3 management.

Typically about £24.97 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 GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchNETGEAR GS308E
Port speeds30%6/106/10
Management20%6/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%7/104/10
Overall6.3/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchNETGEAR GS308E
Ports8 Gigabit RJ-45 copper ports8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on each port8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports
ManagementUnmanaged, no VLANsWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop prevention
PoE budgetNone (PoE ports n/a, PoE budget n/a)None (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)None listed; Gigabit copper only, no SFP or SFP+ portnot listed
Switching capacity16 Gbps16Gbps bandwidth
CoolingFanlessFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)

Strengths and weaknesses

NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

  • + Fanless, with acoustic noise listed as 0
  • + Plug-and-play setup with nothing to configure
  • + Limited lifetime warranty and 90 days of support
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP uplink
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLANs
  • − Owners report failures in older revisions after a few years

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management
  • Anyone powering access points or cameras who needs PoE
  • Users with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices, or who want an SFP uplink
Read the full NETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch review ›

NETGEAR GS308E

  • + Fanless, with 0 dBA listed
  • + Web-managed with VLAN, QoS and loop prevention
  • + Plug-and-play setup; maximum draw of 3.7W
  • − Gigabit only, with no 2.5G or 10G ports
  • − Owners criticise firmware update frequency and process
  • − Layer 2 only, modest web UI and no mobile app

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
  • Anyone with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices or who wants SFP uplinks
  • People who need advanced Layer 3 features or a polished management UI
Read the full NETGEAR GS308E review ›

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