Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

NETGEAR GS308E vs Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The NETGEAR GS308E scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini at 6.1/10.

The NETGEAR GS308E leads on port speeds and noise and efficiency.

The Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini leads on management and firmware and support.

They score the same on port count and uplinks and poE.

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

UniFi Switch Flex Mini

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The UniFi Switch Flex Mini is for people who run, or plan to run, a UniFi network and want a small managed switch. It offers five Gigabit ports, VLAN support and controller management in a 150 g fanless-listed box. It does not suit buyers who need PoE output, SFP uplinks or faster-than-Gigabit links.

Typically about £33 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightNETGEAR GS308EUbiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini
Port speeds30%6/105/10
Management20%7/108/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/108/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%4/105/10
Overall6.2/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS308EUbiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini
Ports8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port5 RJ45 ports, 1GbE
Port speeds8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports10/100/1000 Mbps per port
ManagementWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop preventionUniFi Network Controller management with VLAN support (1,000 VLANs), port isolation, mirroring and rate limiting; requires UniFi Network 5.12.5 or later
PoE budgetNone (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)No PoE output; one port accepts 802.3af/at PoE input only
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedNone; RJ45 ports only, no SFP/SFP+
Switching capacity16Gbps bandwidthSwitching capacity 10 Gbps; 5 Gbps non-blocking throughput; 7 Mpps forwarding rate
CoolingFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)Heat dissipation 6.824 BTU/hr (excluding PoE output); no fan listed on manufacturer page

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini

  • + Controller management with up to 1,000 VLANs
  • + No fan listed; 2.5 W maximum power draw
  • + Small and light: 107 x 70 x 21 mm, 150 g
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP or SFP+ uplink
  • − No PoE output to power other devices
  • − Needs UniFi Network 5.12.5 or later for management

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need PoE output to power access points or cameras
  • Anyone who wants SFP/SFP+ uplinks or faster-than-Gigabit ports
  • People who do not want to run a UniFi controller
Read the full Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches