Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against network switches at a similar priceThe TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 at 6.0/10.
The TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 leads on noise and efficiency.
The TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 leads on port speeds, management, port count and uplinks and poE.
They score the same on firmware and support.
The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 scores 9/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2's 3/10.
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-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
| Criterion | Weight | TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port speeds | 30% | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Management | 20% | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Port count and uplinks | 15% | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Noise and efficiency | 15% | 9/10 | 3/10 |
| PoE | 10% | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Firmware and support | 10% | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Overall | 6.0/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Spec | TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 5 RJ45 ports | 8x 2.5GbE RJ45 PoE+ ports, 2x 10G SFP+ slots, plus one RJ45 and one Micro-USB console port (not data ports) |
| Port speeds | 100Mbps / 1Gbps / 2.5Gbps, auto-negotiated, auto MDI/MDIX | RJ45 ports 100/1000/2500 Mbps; SFP+ slots 10 Gbps |
| Management | Unmanaged | L2+ managed; web management, Omada app, cloud or hardware/software controllers; 802.1Q VLAN, static routing, ACLs, 802.1X |
| PoE budget | No | 240 W total PoE budget; 8 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at); 30 W per port |
| Uplinks (SFP/SFP+) | not listed | 2x 10 Gbps SFP+ |
| Switching capacity | 25 Gbps switching capacity; 18.6 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table; 1.5 Mb packet buffer | 80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.52 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table |
| Cooling | Fanless | Two fans (Fan Quantity: 2), not fanless |
Skip it if:
Skip it if: