Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

TP-Link TL-SG108S vs Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The TP-Link TL-SG108S and Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE both score 5.9/10 overall.

The TP-Link TL-SG108S leads on port speeds.

The Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE leads on management.

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

The biggest difference is management, where the Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE scores 8/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG108S's 5/10.

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

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE is for people already running, or planning, a UniFi setup who want a small, silent managed switch. It suits a desk, small office or home network with a few PoE devices such as access points or cameras. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs faster than gigabit speeds, fibre uplinks or lots of PoE power.

Typically about £111 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

CriterionWeightTP-Link TL-SG108SUbiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE
Port speeds30%6/104/10
Management20%5/108/10
Port count and uplinks15%5/105/10
Noise and efficiency15%9/109/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%5/105/10
Overall5.9/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link TL-SG108SUbiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE
Ports8 RJ45 ports (8 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, Auto-MDI/MDIX)8 RJ45 ports in total, of which 4 are PoE+
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps per port, auto-negotiated10/100/1000 Mbps on all ports
ManagementUnmanaged, plug and playLayer 2 managed, configured through the UniFi Network Controller, in-band Ethernet management
PoE budgetnot listed52 W total PoE budget; up to 30 W per PoE+ port (802.3at)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)not listedNo SFP or SFP+ port; RJ45 networking ports only
Switching capacityPacket forwarding rate 11.9Mpps16 Gbps switching capacity; 8 Gbps non-blocking line rate
CoolingFanlessFanless; heat dissipation 27.3 BTU/hr excluding PoE output

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE

  • + Fanless and quiet, praised by owners
  • + Layer 2 management with VLANs through UniFi Network Controller
  • + Easy setup and quick provisioning, per owners
  • − Only four of eight ports supply PoE
  • − Gigabit only, with no SFP or SFP+ uplink
  • − 52 W PoE budget may strain demanding devices

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE, 10GbE or SFP+ uplinks
  • Anyone powering many or high-demand PoE devices
  • People who want L3 routing on the switch itself
Read the full Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Lite 8 PoE review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches