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TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch vs Zyxel XGS1210-12

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch at 6.2/10.

The TP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit Switch leads on firmware and support.

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 leads on port speeds and port count and uplinks.

They score the same on management, noise and efficiency and poE.

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

Zyxel XGS1210-12

Zyxel XGS1210-12

6.9/10verdict: buy

The Zyxel XGS1210-12 is for homelabbers and small offices that want a quiet, fanless switch with a couple of faster links. It suits someone connecting a server or NAS over 2.5GbE copper or 10G SFP+ while the other devices stay on Gigabit. It is a poor fit if you need PoE or LACP bonding.

Typically about £125 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 LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit SwitchZyxel XGS1210-12
Port speeds30%6/108/10
Management20%6/106/10
Port count and uplinks15%6/107/10
Noise and efficiency15%8/108/10
PoE10%5/105/10
Firmware and support10%6/105/10
Overall6.2/106.9/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link LS1005G 5-Port Gigabit SwitchZyxel XGS1210-12
Ports5 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports, auto-MDI/MDIX12 total: 8 x RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps, 2 x RJ-45 100/1000/2500 Mbps, 2 x SFP+
Port speeds10/100/1000 Mbps per port, auto-negotiation8 copper ports 10/100/1000 Mbps; 2 copper ports 100/1000/2.5G; SFP+ cages take 1G or 10G optics
ManagementUnmanaged, plug-and-play, no configuration neededWeb-managed; port-based VLAN, 802.1p and port-based QoS, IGMP snooping, static link aggregation, port mirroring, management VLAN, HTTP/HTTPS
PoE budgetNoneNo PoE
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)None; RJ45 only, no SFP/SFP+ uplinks2 x SFP+ (1G/10G)
Switching capacity10 Gbps switching capacity, 7.4 Mpps packet forwarding rate66 Gbps switching capacity; 49 Mpps forwarding rate
CoolingFanlessFanless

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Zyxel XGS1210-12

  • + Two SFP+ cages take 1G or 10G optics
  • + Fanless, and owners praise it as quiet and compact
  • + Two 2.5GbE copper ports alongside eight Gigabit ports
  • − Static link aggregation only; no LACP
  • − Owners report heat under heavy load
  • − No PoE

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need LACP link aggregation
  • Anyone who needs PoE for access points or cameras
  • Buyers putting it in a warm, unventilated cupboard under heavy load
Read the full Zyxel XGS1210-12 review ›

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