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NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link TL-SG108S

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch scores 6.1/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG108S at 5.9/10.

The NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch leads on port speeds and firmware and support.

The TP-Link TL-SG108S leads on management.

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

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR MS305 is for anyone who wants to move a small wired network to 2.5GbE without configuring anything. It suits a desk, a home office or a homelab shelf where five ports and silence matter more than VLANs or PoE. Buyers who need segmentation, powered devices or fibre uplinks should look at other models.

Typically about £127.77 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

TL-SG108S

TP-Link TL-SG108S

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG108S is for anyone who needs eight more wired Gigabit ports with no setup. It suits desks, living-room cabinets and small home networks where quiet running matters. It is not for anyone who needs VLANs or a web interface.

Typically about £17.99 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

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG108S
Port speeds30%7/106/10
Management20%4/105/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.1/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG108S
Ports5 copper RJ-45 ports8 RJ45 ports (8 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, Auto-MDI/MDIX)
Port speeds100M/1G/2.5G on each port10/100/1000 Mbps per port, auto-negotiated
ManagementUnmanagedUnmanaged, plug and play
PoE budgetNone (non-PoE switch)not listed
Switching capacity25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB bufferPacket forwarding rate 11.9Mpps
CoolingFanlessFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

  • + 2.5G on all five ports with 1G fallback
  • + Fanless and silent, according to owners
  • + 3-year hardware warranty
  • − Unmanaged, so no VLAN support
  • − No PoE on any port
  • − No SFP or SFP+ uplink ports

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management features
  • Anyone planning to power access points or cameras over PoE
  • People who want SFP or SFP+ uplinks or more than five ports
Read the full NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch review ›

TP-Link TL-SG108S

  • + Fanless and quiet in owner reports
  • + Metal build and plug-and-play setup
  • + Eight Gigabit ports with auto-negotiation
  • − No VLANs or web management listed
  • − No SFP uplink or PoE listed
  • − Gigabit only on every port

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs or a web management interface
  • Anyone who wants to power cameras or access points over PoE
  • Users with 2.5GbE or 10GbE devices or who need SFP uplinks
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG108S review ›

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