Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against network switches at a similar priceThe TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch scores 6.1/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 at 6.0/10.
The TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 leads on port speeds.
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, poE and firmware and support.
The TL-SG105-M2 is for people who want a simple five-port switch with 2.5GbE on every port. It suits a desk, a small home network or a homelab that needs faster links but no VLANs or PoE. It is a plug-in switch with no management interface listed.
Typically about £43 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
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
| Criterion | Weight | TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port speeds | 30% | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Management | 20% | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Port count and uplinks | 15% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Noise and efficiency | 15% | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| PoE | 10% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Firmware and support | 10% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall | 6.0/10 | 6.1/10 |
| Spec | TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | TP-Link TL-SG105S 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 5 RJ45 ports | 5× 10/100/1000 Mbps Auto-Negotiation RJ45 ports supporting Auto-MDI/MDIX |
| Port speeds | 100Mbps / 1Gbps / 2.5Gbps, auto-negotiated, auto MDI/MDIX | 10/100/1000 Mbps, auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX |
| Management | Unmanaged | Unmanaged |
| PoE budget | No | No |
| Switching capacity | 25 Gbps switching capacity; 18.6 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table; 1.5 Mb packet buffer | 10 Gbit/s switching capacity |
| Cooling | Fanless | Durable metal casing, desktop/wall-mounting options, and a fanless design |
Skip it if:
Skip it if: