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NETGEAR GS108 8-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 GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch scores 6.3/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 at 6.0/10.

The NETGEAR GS108 8-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 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

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 GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105-M2
Port speeds30%6/107/10
Management20%6/104/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%7/105/10
Overall6.3/106.0/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS108 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105-M2
Ports8 Gigabit RJ-45 copper ports5 RJ45 ports
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps on each port100Mbps / 1Gbps / 2.5Gbps, auto-negotiated, auto MDI/MDIX
ManagementUnmanaged, no VLANsUnmanaged
PoE budgetNone (PoE ports n/a, PoE budget n/a)No
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)None listed; Gigabit copper only, no SFP or SFP+ portnot listed
Switching capacity16 Gbps25 Gbps switching capacity; 18.6 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table; 1.5 Mb packet buffer
CoolingFanlessFanless

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 ›

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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