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NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch scores 6.2/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch at 6.1/10.

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

The TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch leads on management and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on poE and firmware and support.

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

TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

6.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The TP-Link LS1005G is for anyone who needs a few more wired Ethernet ports without any setup. It suits a desk, media cabinet or small homelab corner where gigabit is enough and VLANs are not needed. Buyers who want management features, PoE or faster links should look at other switches.

Typically about £9.99 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 LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch
Port speeds30%7/106/10
Management20%4/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/106/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/108/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/106/10
Overall6.1/106.2/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch
Ports5 copper RJ-45 ports5 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports, auto-MDI/MDIX
Port speeds100M/1G/2.5G on each port10/100/1000 Mbps per port, auto-negotiation
ManagementUnmanagedUnmanaged, plug-and-play, no configuration needed
PoE budgetNone (non-PoE switch)None
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedNone; RJ45 only, no SFP/SFP+ uplinks
Switching capacity25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.4 Mpps packet forwarding rate
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 LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch

  • + Plug-and-play with no configuration
  • + Fanless and reported as quiet
  • + Two-year warranty from the UK seller
  • − Unmanaged: no VLANs or QoS
  • − Gigabit only, no SFP/SFP+ uplinks
  • − No PoE on any port

Skip it if:

  • Homelabbers who need VLANs, QoS or other management features
  • Buyers who want PoE for cameras or access points
  • Anyone who needs 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP/SFP+ uplinks
Read the full TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch review ›

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