Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch vs TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 scores 6.8/10 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 noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and poE.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2's 3/10.

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-SG3210XHP-M2

TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

6.8/10verdict: buy

The TL-SG3210XHP-M2 is for people building a small rack-based network who need PoE+ and real managed-switch features. It suits setups with 2.5GbE access points or cameras and 10G SFP+ uplinks. It is a poor fit for quiet rooms because it has two fans.

Typically about £340 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 MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Port speeds30%7/108/10
Management20%4/108/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/107/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/103/10
PoE10%5/108/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.1/106.8/10

Specifications

SpecNETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged SwitchTP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2
Ports5 copper RJ-45 ports8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports)
Port speeds100M/1G/2.5G on each portRJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps
ManagementUnmanagedL2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X
PoE budgetNone (non-PoE switch)240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listed2x 10 Gbps SFP+
Switching capacity25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table
CoolingFanlessTwo fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless

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-SG3210XHP-M2

  • + Eight 2.5GbE PoE+ ports with a 240 W total budget
  • + L2+ management with VLANs, static routing, ACLs and 802.1X
  • + Two 10 Gbps SFP+ uplinks
  • − Two fans; one owner report calls it too loud for offices
  • − Cloud management needs a hardware controller or dedicated computer
  • − Update history and warranty terms aren't stated

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a silent or fanless switch for an office or desk
  • Anyone needing more than ten data ports on one switch
  • Buyers wanting cloud management without a hardware controller or dedicated computer
Read the full TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches