Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
all judged against network switches at a similar priceThe Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 at 6.0/10.
The Zyxel XMG1915-10E leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.
They score the same on noise and efficiency, poE and firmware and support.
The biggest difference is management, where the Zyxel XMG1915-10E scores 7/10 to the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2's 4/10.
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 Zyxel XMG1915-10E is for people who want 2.5GbE on most ports and 10G uplinks in a quiet, fanless switch. It suits homelabbers and small offices whose devices bring their own power, since it has no PoE. It does not offer copper 10GbE, so buyers who want that need to look at SFP+ modules or other models.
Typically about £189 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 | Zyxel XMG1915-10E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port speeds | 30% | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Management | 20% | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Port count and uplinks | 15% | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| 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 | 7.4/10 |
| Spec | TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 | Zyxel XMG1915-10E |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 5 RJ45 ports | 8 x 100M/1G/2.5G RJ-45 plus 2 x 1G SFP/10G SFP+ (10 total) |
| Port speeds | 100Mbps / 1Gbps / 2.5Gbps, auto-negotiated, auto MDI/MDIX | 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps on the eight copper ports; SFP+ slots take 1G or 10G |
| Management | Unmanaged | Smart Managed |
| PoE budget | No | None (0 PoE ports) |
| Uplinks (SFP/SFP+) | not listed | 2 x 1G SFP / 10G SFP+ |
| Switching capacity | 25 Gbps switching capacity; 18.6 Mpps forwarding rate; 16K MAC table; 1.5 Mb packet buffer | 80 Gbps switching capacity; 59.5 Mpps forwarding rate |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fanless |
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