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NETGEAR GS308E 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 GS308E at 6.2/10.

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

They score the same on management, noise and efficiency and poE.

The biggest difference is port count and uplinks, where the Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 8/10 to the NETGEAR GS308E's 5/10.

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

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 GS308EZyxel XMG1915-10E
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%7/107/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/108/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%4/105/10
Overall6.2/107.4/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR GS308EZyxel XMG1915-10E
Ports8 x Gigabit RJ45, no 10G port8 x 100M/1G/2.5G RJ-45 plus 2 x 1G SFP/10G SFP+ (10 total)
Port speeds8 x 1G ports, auto-negotiating; no 2.5G or 10G ports100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps on the eight copper ports; SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G
ManagementWeb-managed Easy Smart interface; VLAN, QoS, cable health check and loop preventionSmart Managed
PoE budgetNone (PoE ports and PoE budget N/A)None (0 PoE ports)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2 x 1G SFP / 10G SFP+
Switching capacity16Gbps bandwidth80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.5 Mpps forwarding rate
CoolingFanless (0 fans, 0 dBA at 25°C)Fanless

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 ›

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 ›

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