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NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

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 and TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch both score 6.1/10 overall.

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

The TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch 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

TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The TL-SG105S is for anyone who needs four or five extra wired gigabit ports without any setup. It suits desks, benches and small home networks where traffic does not need segmenting on the switch. It does not suit buyers who need VLANs, PoE or faster-than-gigabit links.

Typically about £13.99 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-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch
Port speeds30%7/106/10
Management20%4/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.1/106.1/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch
Ports5 copper RJ-45 ports5× 10/100/1000 Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports supporting Auto-MDI/MDIX
Port speeds100M/1G/2.5G on each port10/100/1000 Mbps, auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX
ManagementUnmanagedUnmanaged
PoE budgetNone (non-PoE switch)No
Switching capacity25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer10 Gbit/s switching capacity
CoolingFanlessDurable metal casing, desktop/wall-mounting options, and a fanless design

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-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch

  • + Fanless design with a 3.1 W maximum power draw
  • + Plug-and-play with no configuration needed
  • + Metal casing with desktop or wall-mount options
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP or SFP+ uplink listed
  • − Manufacturer page does not list VLAN support
  • − No PoE on any port

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need VLANs to segment traffic on the switch
  • Anyone powering access points or cameras over Ethernet
  • Buyers who want 2.5GbE ports or an SFP uplink
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch review ›

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